India captain Rohit Sharma answered his critics with a composed and attacking half-century in the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s on Sunday, July 19. Chasing a daunting target of 388, the veteran opener displayed his trademark elegance and confidence after enduring a disappointing start to the series.
England had earlier piled up a massive 387/3 after opting to bat first, leaving India with one of the toughest run chases in ODI history. Needing a strong start, Rohit took the responsibility upon himself and looked in complete control from the outset. He played with positive intent, punishing loose deliveries while rotating the strike effectively to keep India’s chase on track.
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The milestone came in the 21st over when Rohit produced a moment of brilliance against Gus Atkinson. Facing a fuller delivery, the right-handed batter shuffled across his stumps and executed a perfectly timed scoop over fine leg for four, bringing up his 63rd ODI half-century in style. He acknowledged the roaring Lord’s crowd by raising his bat, while his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, was spotted applauding proudly from the stands.
A landmark innings from Rohit Sharma! 🔥
Hitman brings up his fifty and becomes the first overseas batter to reach 1,500 ODI runs in England. 👊🏻
Will he take India all the way? 👀#ENGvIND 3rd ODI 👉 Streaming LIVE on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/ag3c0KEBtY
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 19, 2026
The knock carried extra significance, as Rohit entered the match under intense scrutiny following scores of 11 and 26 in the opening two ODIs. Adding to the pressure were widespread retirement rumours suggesting that the Lord’s clash could be his final appearance in Indian colours. The 39-year-old, however, let his bat do the talking with a timely return to form.
During the innings, Rohit also achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first overseas batter to score 1,500 ODI runs in England. He now boasts 1,532 runs in 30 ODIs in England at an outstanding average of 63.83, including seven centuries and eight half-centuries.
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Among overseas batters, Virat Kohli is second on the list with 1,419 runs, while Kane Williamson and Ricky Ponting follow closely behind.
With India chasing a record-breaking target to seal the ODI series, Rohit’s fluent start provided the visitors with the perfect platform. The Men in Blue will now hope their captain converts his well-crafted fifty into a match-winning century in one of the biggest chases in ODI history.
