India defeated England by four wickets with 33 balls to spare in the second ODI, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Rohit Sharma played a key role, scoring 119 runs off 90 balls, which helped India chase down 305 runs at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. As a result, India extended their dominance, marking their seventh consecutive ODI series win against England at home over the past 20 years.

Strong Start with Rohit and Gill

India’s chase began well with a solid 136-run partnership between Rohit and Shubman Gill. Both players attacked England’s pacers early on, putting pressure on the bowlers. However, Gill was dismissed by Jamie Overton in the 17th over, after his stumps were shattered.

Kohli Falls, Rohit Continues Dominating

Next, Virat Kohli came in at No. 3 but could not make an impact. He was dismissed cheaply for just 5, edging Adil Rashid to the keeper. Despite this, Rohit continued his aggressive play, hitting pull shots and lofted drives. He reached his 32nd ODI century in just 84 balls, finishing off with a huge six off Rashid.

Rohit Falls, Middle Order Struggles

Eventually, Rohit fell after mishitting a full toss from Liam Livingstone. Adil Rashid completed a fine catch near long-on, giving England a brief chance. Shreyas Iyer (44 off 47) steadied the innings but was run out after a mix-up with Axar Patel. Soon after, KL Rahul (10) and Hardik Pandya (10) were dismissed quickly, putting India under pressure.

Axar and Jadeja Guide India Home

However, Axar Patel (41 not out off 43) and Ravindra Jadeja (11 not out off 7) held their nerve. Together, they guided India to victory with 33 balls to spare, securing the win.

England’s Total Falls Short

Earlier, England posted a competitive total of 304 in 49.5 overs. Joe Root (69 off 72), Ben Duckett (65 off 56), and Liam Livingstone (41 off 32) contributed significantly to the total.

Jadeja’s Breakthroughs and Middle Overs Control

England’s opening pair added 81 runs before Jadeja (3/35) made two crucial breakthroughs, dismissing Duckett and Root. This slowed down the scoring rate, helping India get back into the game.

Late Push from Livingstone

Although Harry Brook (31 off 52) and Jos Buttler (34 off 35) steadied the innings, Livingstone’s quick knock provided England with a late push. However, they lost wickets towards the end, which restricted them from reaching a higher total.

Jadeja Shines with the Ball

Jadeja was the standout bowler with 3/35. Varun Chakravarthy (1/54), Mohammed Shami (1/66), and Harshit Rana (1/62) all took wickets. Meanwhile, Axar Patel maintained a solid economy rate of 5.33, despite not taking any wickets.

Brief Scorecard

With this victory, India takes a 2-0 lead in the series. Rohit Sharma is back in form, but he has to work hard on his batting to maintain this form. Virat Kohli made his comeback after an injury but got out early. He also needs to work on his fitness and batting. Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer continue to impress with their batting performances and look promising for the upcoming matches, which is a positive sign for India's middle-order batting. The third ODI will take place on Wednesday, February 12, in Ahmedabad. Stay tuned with JUSZNEWS for more sports updates.