India vs England ODI win as Rohit Sharma’s blazing 119 secures series victory

India sealed the ODI series against England emphatically as captain Rohit Sharma produced a batting masterclass, hammering 119 off 90 balls to chase down 305 with ease in Cuttack. The four-wicket victory, secured with 33 balls to spare, exposed England’s continued struggles under coach Brendon McCullum.

Batting first, England made a promising start as Ben Duckett (65) and Phil Salt (37) laid the foundation with an 81-run opening stand. However, their momentum fizzled out as the middle order failed to capitalise. Despite Joe Root top-scoring with 69, England collapsed late, managing only 304 before being bowled out with a ball remaining. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of India’s bowlers, finishing with 3-35.

Under the Cuttack lights, Rohit put England’s total to shame. He was ruthless against pace, dispatching anything short and driving full deliveries with precision. His brutal six over mid-wicket off Gus Atkinson signalled his return to form, while his 136-run opening partnership with Shubman Gill (60) all but sealed England’s fate.

The England camp had a brief moment of hope when Rohit miscued a full toss from Liam Livingstone in the 30th over, but with only 85 runs needed, India never lost control. Shreyas Iyer (44) fell to a run-out, KL Rahul departed for 18, and Hardik Pandya was caught pulling to deep square leg. Yet, the damage had already been done.

England’s fast bowlers, including Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Saqib Mahmood, and Mark Wood, struggled to contain India’s batters, suffering heavily in the middle overs. The visitors now face their final match of the tour in Ahmedabad before their Champions Trophy opener against Australia on 22 February.

Adding to their woes, England suffered another setback as all-rounder Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury sustained in the first ODI.

For India, this series win marks another statement of dominance, while for England, the search for consistency under McCullum continues.