ENG vs IND | Rohit Sharma mints batting milestones in record win

Team India steamrolled hosts England by 10 wickets at The Oval to go 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series. After Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami floored the Englishmen for just 110, openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan cantered themselves to an easy run-chase.

Captain Sharma charted 76* from just 58 deliveries, striking seven boundaries and five hits over the fence. His unbeaten effort marked the 45th half-century of his ODI career, and his 14th fifty-plus ODI score in England.

Sharma, Bumrah outclass England in 1st ODI

Notably, the Indian captain now holds the record of registering most fifty-plus ODI scores for a visiting player in England. He went past his teammate Virat Kohli, his coach Rahul Dravid and active New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson with 13 such scores each.

The 35-year-old cricketer, courtesy of his five sixes in the evening, also completed 250 ODI maximums. He became the first Indian ever to reach the landmark, with MS Dhoni’s 229 ODI sixes placing the former Indian captain on the second spot.

Overall, Sharma became the fourth cricketer in the world to do so. The ODI six-hitting list is led by former Pakistan skipper and all-rounder Shahid Afridi (351), followed by white-ball opening brutes Chris Gayle (331) and Sanath Jayasuriya (270).

ENG vs IND 2022 updates

Sharma-led ‘Men in Blue’ will now face the hosts in the second ODI of the series on July 14. The match is slated to be played at Lord’s in London and the action will commence from 5:30 PM IST onwards.