Rohit Sharma answered the questions over his international future with a superb 138 off 110 balls at Lord’s, and afterwards he spoke warmly about the batting partner who helped him do it: Virat Kohli.
The two shared a 113-run stand from only 86 balls, a reminder of their best days together. Kohli made a fluent 74 off 60 deliveries as India chased 388. India looked to be in command of the pursuit until Rohit was dismissed by Jacob Bethell, and a late collapse followed.
A partnership built over a whole career
Speaking to the BCCI, Rohit said it was pleasing to have Kohli at the other end. He pointed out that the two have played their entire careers side by side and have put together many partnerships, and that they understand each other’s game so well that batting together is always enjoyable. He added that the pair talked constantly in the middle, swapping ideas on what they could do.
Ignoring the noise
Rohit came into the match after scores of 11 and 26 in the first two ODIs, with retirement talk growing louder. His century made him the first Indian batter to hit an ODI hundred at Lord’s.
He insisted that outside chatter does not change his approach. His job, he said, is to go out with the bat and represent his country, as it has been since his debut, and the noise has always been there and always will be. What counts, in his view, is his contribution on the field, and he summed it up by saying his job is inside the boundary and the critics’ job is outside it.
Numbers from England
This may have been Rohit’s last match in England. He ended his time there as the highest-scoring overseas batter in ODIs in the country, with 1,630 runs in 30 innings at an average of 64.12. His eight ODI centuries in England put him joint-second with Marcus Trescothick.
