The Indian captain breaks a historic venue hoodoo with a brilliant 138, but the visitors fall 27 runs short of England’s massive 387-run target.
LONDON: July 20, 2026:Rohit Sharma etched his name into cricket history by becoming the first Indian batsman to score a One-Day International century at Lord’s, though his valiant 138 failed to prevent England from securing a 27-run victory to claim the three-match series 2-1 on Sunday.
Chasing a daunting target of 388, the Indian captain delivered a masterclass in aggressive batting, reaching his 34th ODI century off just 84 deliveries. The milestone, his first international ton of 2026, arrived in spectacular fashion when he dispatched England fast bowler Josh Tongue for consecutive sixes. Despite battling severe muscle cramps in the later stages of his innings, Rohit accumulated 138 runs before being dismissed, anchoring a spirited Indian chase that ultimately concluded at 360 all out.
The foundation of England’s imposing total of 387 for 3 was laid by a formidable 192-run opening partnership between Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett. Bethell narrowly missed out on a century, falling for 91, while Duckett spearheaded the innings with a commanding 141 off 135 balls before offering a return catch off a slower delivery. Joe Root capitalised on the momentum with an unbeaten 74, ensuring the hosts capitalised fully on the absence of India’s premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, who sat out the match due to an injury.
India’s response began promisingly as Rohit and Shubman Gill compiled a fluent 147-run opening stand. Gill contributed a solid 77 before being trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Adil Rashid. Virat Kohli then joined his captain, registering his highest international score at the historic venue with a fighting half-century. However, Sam Curran’s clever variations disrupted India’s middle order after Rohit’s dismissal, and part-timer Bethell claimed the crucial breakthrough by removing the Indian skipper. A late 36-run partnership for the final wickets between Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar narrowed the margin of defeat but proved insufficient against the mounting required run rate.
Beyond the result, the fixture served as a landmark occasion for Indian cricket longevity. Rohit and Kohli became the first Indian pair to feature together in 400 international matches across all formats. The duo now occupies the seventh position on the all-time list of international partnerships, a chart led by Sri Lankan icons Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene with 550 joint appearances.
The high-profile encounter attracted a distinguished sporting audience. Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, a hero of India’s historic 2002 NatWest Series final triumph at the same venue, performed the traditional duty of ringing the Lord’s five-minute bell before play commenced. The grandstands also featured legendary figures including MS Dhoni, Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd, and Sangakkara.
Players from both teams wore black armbands as a mark of respect for West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89.
For Rohit, the spectacular innings provided a firm response to intense media speculation regarding his future in the 50-over format. Following low scores of 11 and 26 in the opening two matches of the series, rumors of an impending retirement had intensified. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had formally dismissed reports that the Lord’s fixture would be his final ODI appearance, the captain’s authoritative century offers a resounding statement on his continued prowess at the international level.
