After a challenging stretch in red-ball cricket, Rohit Sharma made a powerful comeback, delivering a remarkable century that serves as a crucial reminder for rival teams ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. His explosive 119-run innings propelled India to victory in the second ODI of the three-match series against England in Cuttack on Sunday.

As one of the premier batsmen in the 50-over format, Rohit’s early exit for just 2 runs in the first ODI may have stirred doubts before the Champions Trophy. However, his commanding performance, which featured seven sixes and 12 fours in a rapid 90-ball stay at the crease, eased concerns as the tournament approaches for the first time in seven years.

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Rohit showcased his leadership by scoring his 32nd ODI century under the lights, marking his first century since the 2023 World Cup, where he achieved an impressive 131 against Afghanistan.

With his timing and shot-making back in top form, Rohit has regained the much-needed confidence ahead of the Champions Trophy. His innings also propelled him to become the second-highest run-scoring opener for India across formats, surpassing legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, just behind Virender Sehwag.

Rohit’s match-winning performance earned praise from veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after the game.

“He’s such a big player that he knows how to play his innings. It’s just a matter of one innings. As you saw, it didn’t feel like he hadn’t scored runs in his previous innings. It was so smooth and confident. All the shots were normal and fluid. Sometimes it just takes one or two innings to get back on track,” Jadeja remarked following the victory.

“It’s great that before the Champions Trophy, he scored a century. A knock like that is crucial for the team. He knows his game inside out. If any player scores a hundred before a big tournament, it’s beneficial for both the player and the team. If the top order is scoring, it sets a solid foundation for the others to follow,” Jadeja added, also contributing significantly with figures of 3/35 in his 10 overs.

Reflecting on his innings, Rohit expressed his enjoyment in scoring runs for his team.

“I broke my innings down into segments. It’s a 50-over format—longer than T20 and shorter than Test cricket—so it’s important to assess the situation regularly. I focused on staying out there and building my innings as deep as possible,” Rohit shared after receiving the Player of the Match award.

Over the past year, Rohit’s form has come under scrutiny, averaging just 23.70 in Test matches, with a decline to 10.93 since September 2024. However, on Sunday, he rediscovered his rhythm, playing precisely the kind of innings that has defined his legacy in the format.

“Considering the pitch conditions, when playing on black soil, the ball tends to skid, so it’s crucial to show the full face of the bat early on,” he explained regarding his approach.

“As I settled into my innings, I recognized the bowling strategy: targeting our bodies and limiting our room for shots. I adapted my plan to exploit the gaps,” he noted.

“It’s essential for a batter to understand their game plan and I received excellent support from (Shubman) Gill, and later from Shreyas [Iyer],” he added.