India vs England, 3rd ODI: Team India opener Rohit Sharma has firmly made a comeback, 48 hours after retirement rumours spread thick and fast following his failure in the first two ODIs against England. Nevertheless, the 39-year-old seems to have firmly got himself back into the reckoning for the 50-over World Cup next year. Having smashed an 84-ball ton at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in the third and final ODI, he has become the first Indian batter to achieve the landmark in 50-over cricket at the venue.
IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI: Was Rohit Sharma going to retire after the Lord’s game?
The former Indian captain had been terribly short of runs and form in the last few ODIs. Having retired from Tests and T20Is, the Nagpur-born cricketer has managed only three half-centuries since his ton against Australia in Sydney last year. The veteran has also looked pale in the first two games, managing scores of 11 and 26 and lacked intent massively. During the second ODI against England in Cardiff, an Indian Express report claimed that the Lord’s fixture could well be his final international appearance, having already retired from Tests and T20Is since the selectors no longer see him in their 2027 World Cup plans. Nevertheless, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has shut down any possibilities of retirement, claiming that such conversations haven’t taken place.
A statement 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ from the HITMAN! 😍
Rohit Sharma brings up a sensational century and becomes the first Indian to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s! 🇮🇳#ENGvIND 3rd ODI 👉 Streaming LIVE on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/sFnq0hRAHq
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 19, 2026
Meanwhile, Rohit didn’t start in the most effective manner but pounced on some poor bowling from Josh Tongue, dispatching him for two boundaries and a six in the same over. He played two paddle sweeps for consecutive fours to get to his half-century in 50 balls. The Nagpur-born cricketer also became the first overseas batter to reach 1500 ODI runs on English soil. The hundred came in the 31st over of the innings with a boundary off Adil Rashid’s bowling. With the tourists needing 388 to win the decider, Rohit’s hundred and his 147-run opening stand with Shubman Gill has put their side on the cusp of a historic victory.
IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler and Joe Root punish India before Rohit Sharma steps up
Meanwhile, England, who had won the toss and opted to bat first, witnessed a 193-run opening stand between Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell. After Bethell fell for 91, Duckett brought up his fourth ODI hundred and struck 141.
While Harry Brook perished for 14, Joe Root (74*) and Jos Buttler (41*) plundered boundaries at will to take the hosts to 387. Should India win, it would be the second-highest successful run-chase in ODIs.
