Talking Points: Rohit answers, Root endures, and India ponder balance

Talking Points: Rohit answers, Root endures, and India ponder balance

A 387-plays-360 affair, the highest aggregate in an ODI at Lord's.

Rohit isn't going anywhere

After questions over his future, Rohit Sharma answered emphatically with his first ODI hundred at Lord's — his 34th in the format. He adapted superbly to the slow surface, adjusting bat speed against Sam Curran's slower balls. His 110-ball 138 wasn't enough to take India home.

India's bowlers missed their mark

None of India's quicks except Prasidh Krishna consistently hit the right length in the first Powerplay. They strayed down the line too often. Axar Patel, the only slow-bowling option, was easier to line up on a pitch with lower bounce than Birmingham or Cardiff. India conceded 27 runs in the first three overs and 62 in the last three, despite ball reversal.

Four quicks, five bowlers, plenty of questions

Four fast bowlers plus Axar Patel. Five bowling options. No Kuldeep Yadav. This was India's fourth defeat in seven bilateral ODI series since start of 2024. They've won just seven of 24 ODIs in SENA countries since 2020, with six series defeats in eight attempts.

With a year to the 2027 World Cup (mostly in South Africa), questions around balance remain. The need for a quality seam-bowling all-rounder was evident with Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy unavailable.

Bethell gives England another dimension

Jacob Bethell, promoted to open this series, laid a 192-run opening stand with Ben Duckett — England's highest partnership for any wicket against India in ODIs. He scored 91 off 93 and also bowled 7 overs for 49 runs, keeping Rohit and Kohli quiet through the middle overs.

Joe Root continues to be Joe Root

Root's unbeaten half-century extended a remarkable run: 61, 75, 111*, 76*, 99*, 74* in his last six ODI innings. He was named Player of the Series.