Rohit Sharma Ends Drought with 32nd ODI Hundred Ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025

In a fine display of resilience and skill, Rohit Sharma returned to form with a scintillating 119 runs in the second ODI against England on Sunday. Indian captain’s first international century in nearly a year ended his prolonged lean patch and marked a significant milestone ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The match, held at Cuttack, saw England set a target of 305 runs. In response, Sharma led from the front, scoring 119 off just 76 balls, including 12 fours and seven sixes. His blistering knock was the highlight of the Indian chase, as he single-handedly took charge and steered his team towards victory, with his well-paced innings showcasing the vintage aggression for which he is known.

Sharma’s ton, thus, was also much-needed because it came at a very appropriate time in the game after he had struggled through a challenging phase of inconsistent form, which began right at the start of the New Zealand series. The last international hundred by Sharma was against Afghanistan during the 2023 ODI World Cup, while Sharma’s last hundred in Tests had been against England in 2024.

From the start of his innings, Rohit Sharma was there to make a statement. Quietly after one over, he took the attack to the English bowlers hitting a six and a four off Gus Atkinson in the second over. The dominance continued and even a 30-minute floodlight delay couldn’t break his concentration. Along with Shubman Gill who was steady at the other end, Sharma kept the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace, and the English bowlers seemed to struggle to find a way to put brakes on his onslaught.

Rohit Sharma’s 119-run knock pushed him to third in the list of Indian batsmen with most ODI hundreds, behind only Virat Kohli (50) and Sachin Tendulkar (49). The century also gave India a timely lift in the chase, which they completed rather easily. Although Sharma was eventually dismissed, it was a clear message that he is ready to lead the Indian team into the prestigious Champions Trophy, which is just around the corner.

This century couldn’t have come at a better time for Rohit Sharma, who has faced intense scrutiny and criticism over the past year, particularly during his recent lean run. With only 10 days remaining for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, this knock has reaffirmed his place as one of India’s key players in the limited-overs format.

As the Indian team gets ready to take the field in the Champions Trophy, Sharma’s return to form at this opportune time will greatly heighten their morale and make the team very buoyant in the tournament. Once again, the Indian skipper’s experience and the match-winning ability have come to the fore promising exciting times for Indian cricket.