The third and final ODI between England and India at Lord’s carries two clear threads: the series result and the attention around Rohit Sharma. With the contest set up as a decider, India will need more from its senior opener after two difficult outings in the first two matches.
Rohit’s future as an ODI cricketer has been a major talking point around the match, with reports and clarifications following him into the Lord’s fixture. The game is also being viewed as a possible final chance for the English crowd to see Rohit and Virat Kohli together in India colours.
For India, the more immediate issue is simpler. Rohit has not yet found rhythm in this series. He made 11 off 21 balls in Birmingham and 26 off 47 balls in Cardiff. Both pitches were not straightforward for batting, but his timing and fluency have been well below his usual standards.
Rohit trained on Saturday under the observation of head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. The report from the session suggested that the sound of the ball coming off his bat was encouraging. India will hope that practice form turns into runs in the match, especially with the series at stake.
India need a steadier top order
India have had useful contributions from other batters. Shubman Gill made 80 in the first ODI at Edgbaston and followed it with 31 at Sophia Gardens. Kohli, after scoring 5 in the opening match, responded with a controlled 65 off 66 balls in the second ODI.
Shreyas Iyer also looked fluent during his 66-run innings in the second match. Even so, India lost that game by four wickets in Wales after a collapse from 178 for three to 193 for seven. That passage hurt the tourists badly because they were unable to hold the innings together after being in a workable position.
The lack of an anchor was one of India’s biggest problems in that defeat. England had Joe Root to play that role. Root finished unbeaten on 99 and guided England through the chase, giving the home side a chance to win the series at Lord’s.
If England complete the job, it would be only their third title success in their last nine bilateral series. Root’s form and calmness in the middle order will again be central to their chances.
Middle-order resilience a concern for both sides
Although the focus around India is on Rohit’s form and the handling of pressure, both teams have shown weakness in the middle order during the series. England’s collapse in the first ODI was steep. They moved from 61 without loss to 107 for six, giving India a clear opening.
India had a similar slide in the second ODI. From 178 for three, the visitors lost quick wickets and slipped to 193 for seven. That left them short of the kind of total they might have expected from their position.
Short-pitched bowling has also been a concern for India. The source report notes that the tourists have found that type of bowling difficult to handle at times in the series. England are likely to keep testing that area if the Lord’s pitch offers enough bounce.
Rohit’s innings could shape India’s day
A series decider can sometimes help a senior player narrow his focus. Rohit has enough experience to separate outside noise from the job at hand, but India need that experience to show in the middle. A settled start from him would ease pressure on Gill, Kohli and the middle order.
India’s batting has not been without runs, but the innings structure has wobbled. If Rohit can bat longer, India would have a better chance of avoiding the type of middle-order pressure that damaged them in Cardiff.
For England, the plan is clear: keep India’s senior players under pressure and trust Root and the middle order to manage the chase or build a total. For India, the task begins with a more assured top-order display and a cleaner response to short-pitched bowling.
Lord’s now has a compact but important match-up: one ODI to decide the series, with India searching for a sharper batting performance and Rohit looking for runs at a time when every innings is being watched closely.
Source: The Hindu Cricket.