Rohit Sharma’s men outclassed the sub-par England team in all departments as they beat the hosts by ten wickets at Oval. The visitors bowled out the England team for 110 in 25 plus overs. It was England’s lowest total against India in one day matches. While Jasprit Bumrah grabbed six wickets by conceding just 19 runs scuttling the England team, Rohit Sharma played a captain’s knock by hitting his 44th ODI half century. He made 76 not out with Sikhar Dhawan keeping him company with 31 not out.
Bumra registered his career best figures of six for 19 while Mohammad Shami took three wickets for 31 runs to restrict the hosts to the lowest score. England were put to bat by India which won the toss.
With Tuesday’s half century Rohit Sharma had surpassed Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson (New Zealand captain and captain of The Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL). He made 14 half centuries, the highest by any visitor. Dravid, Kohli and Williamson made 13 half centuries each.
As the openers Rohit Sharma and Sikhar Dhawan reached the target without losing a wicket the entire middle order comprising talented players like Shryas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (who made an extraordinary century in the last T20 which India lost), Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya were confined to the pavilion.
After hitting out at the critics who wanted Virat Kohli, who has been struggling to find his form, to be out of the team, Rohit entered the field to see the England team routed for just 110, a score that is not respected even in T20, and then reach the target of 111 runs without losing a wicket. Kohli did not play in the first one day match due to injury.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Shami became the fastest Indian to take 150 wickets. He took 80 matches to reach the mark surpassing Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar who took 97 matches. Shami also becomes a joint – third fastest ever to take 150 ODI wickets along with Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. The top two positions are held by Australia’s Mitchell Stars (77 matches) and Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq (78 matches).
