Azharuddin hails Rohit's historic ton, says India failed to adapt against England
Hyderabad, July 20
Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin praised Rohit Sharma after his historic ton against England at Lord's for proving he still has what it takes at the highest level.
Azharuddin said Sharma performed well and expressed confidence that he will continue playing and feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Sharma etched his name in the record books as he became the first Indian to score an ODI century at Lord's, scoring 138 runs off 110 balls. One of the most elegant white ball strikers, Sharma achieved this feat during India's third ODI against England on Sunday.
However, to India's dismay, despite Rohit's ton, the Men in Blue lost by 27 runs as they could only manage 360-7 in 50 overs against England's 387-3 in 50 overs.
"He played well. He proved that he can still play. I believe he will play in the 2027 World Cup," Azharuddin told the reporters.
Azharuddin also said England outplayed India, adding that while the Indian team has outstanding players, the batters failed to adapt to the match situation.
"I saw the highlights. England played well. We have outstanding players, but they failed to adjust their batting according to the situation. The youngsters are playing really well," he added.
Rohit's heroics went in vain as England defeated India by 27 runs in the third ODI at Lord's to seal the series 2-1.
England posted a record 387/3, the highest ODI total at the venue, with Ben Duckett (141), Jacob Bethell (91), Joe Root (74*) and Jos Buttler (41*) starring.
India looked on course during Rohit's 147-run opening stand with Shubman Gill (77) and his 113-run partnership with Virat Kohli (74), but collapsed from 304/2. Sam Curran claimed four wickets as England held their nerve.
— ANI
Reader Comments
What a player Rohit is! 🏏 Making history at Lord's—so proud. But the team management needs to address why we keep losing after big starts. It's not just about individual brilliance; we need a solid Plan B when wickets fall. England showed great depth in their batting. Let's hope the youngsters learn from this. 🇮🇳
Respect for Rohit, no doubt—that century at the Mecca of Cricket is legendary. But Azharuddin's criticism is spot on: the batting collapse was avoidable. We had 304/2 and ended at 360/7. That's not just bad luck; it's poor game awareness. The bowlers also need to step up—conceding 387 is unacceptable in ODIs. Time to introspect. 🤔
Rohit's innings was world-class—pure class and timing. But our bowling attack looked clueless against Duckett and Bethell. England's batting lineup is deep, but we made them look invincible. Azharuddin is right about adaptation, but I'd add that our death bowling needs serious work. Still, proud of the team's fight! 💪🏏
Rohit's knock was brilliant—truly a special innings at Lord's. But India's chase management was poor. From 304/2 to losing by 27 runs—that's a massive choke. England's bowling, especially Curran, was smart. Azharuddin's point about adjusting to the situation is valid. India has talent, but they need to handle pressure better. Great series overall though.
K We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.