Rohit's 138 at Lord's not enough as England beat India by 27 runs, clinch ODI series 2-1
Synopsis
Rohit Sharma walked off Lord's to a standing ovation after a stunning 138 — the first ODI hundred by an Indian at this ground — but England's death-bowling and Jacob Bethell's match-turning spell denied India what would have been a historic chase. A 260/1 platform collapsed to 360/7, and England took the series 2-1.
Key Takeaways
England beat India by 27 runs at Lord's on 19 July to clinch the ODI series 2-1 .
Rohit Sharma's 138 — laced with 17 fours and five sixes — is the first ODI century by an Indian batter at Lord's and the highest individual ODI score by an Indian against England in England.
India slid from 260/1 to 329/7 , undone by Jacob Bethell's seven-over spell of 1-49 and Sam Curran's 4-75 .
Shubman Gill (77) and Virat Kohli (74) provided support but could not see India home.
England's final five overs yielded 82 runs , with Jos Buttler hitting 41 off 13 balls to set an imposing 387/3 .
Ben Duckett (141) and Jacob Bethell (91) anchored England's innings.
Rohit Sharma's historic 138 — the first ODI century by an Indian batter at Lord's — could not prevent England from defeating India by 27 runs in a high-scoring thriller on Sunday, 19 July, as the hosts clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1. Chasing a daunting 388, India fell short at 360/7 in 50 overs, undone by a disciplined England death-bowling display.
England's Explosive Finish Sets the Target
England posted 387/3 in their 50 overs, powered by Ben Duckett's 141 and a blistering 91 from young Jacob Bethell. The decisive blow came in the final five overs, where England plundered 82 runs, with Jos Buttler smashing 41 of those in just 13 balls. Prasidh Krishna was the pick of India's bowlers with 2-69.
Rohit and Gill's Record Opening Stand
India's chase began with purpose. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill constructed a 147-run opening partnership, the first instance of both teams recording a century opening stand in an ODI at Lord's. Gill was in sublime touch — cutting, driving, and sweeping with authority — before he was trapped lbw by Adil Rashid for 77 off 53 balls, confirmed by DRS.
Rohit, meanwhile, answered his critics emphatically. After a watchful start, he shifted gears dramatically — reaching his 34th ODI century off just 85 balls with a slog-sweep off Rashid. His 138, laced with 17 fours and five sixes, is now the highest individual ODI score by an Indian batter against England on English soil. He received a standing ovation from the Lord's crowd as he walked back, bowled by Bethell attempting a sweep.
Bethell and Curran Turn the Match
India's chase unravelled in a decisive passage between overs 30 and 40. Jacob Bethell's seven-over left-arm spin spell — conceding just 49 runs and claiming Rohit's prized wicket — swung the contest irreversibly. India collapsed from a commanding 260/1 to 329/7 in the space of a few overs.
Sam Curran was equally damaging, finishing with 4-75 with clever slower balls that strangled India's lower-middle order. He removed Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer in four balls, and when Virat Kohli — who contributed a measured 74 — miscued a slower ball from Curran to cover, the result was sealed.
The Margin That Mattered
The 27-run defeat reflects the thin margin between two evenly matched sides. India's 360/7 would have won nine out of ten ODI chases at this ground; England simply batted better in the final powerplay. This is the second consecutive ODI series India have lost in England, and it raises questions about India's ability to close out high-target chases when their top three depart in quick succession.
With the T20 leg of the tour to follow, India will look to regroup quickly — though the performances of Rohit and Gill in this series suggest the batting unit is far from short of firepower.
Point of View
Against a full-strength England attack, under intense scrutiny over his place in the side. Yet the defeat underlines a recurring India problem: the inability to win high-target chases when the top three depart in the same narrow window. The collapse from 260/1 to 329/7 was not a batting failure but a tactical one — India had no answer to Bethell's part-time spin at a critical juncture, which speaks to a middle-order that still lacks a finisher capable of accelerating from ball 40 onwards without relying on the top order. England, by contrast, have weaponised the death overs with clinical precision — 82 in the last five is a statement of intent, not luck.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the 3rd ODI between India and England at Lord's?
England beat India by 27 runs at Lord's on 19 July to win the three-match ODI series 2-1. India, chasing 388, finished at 360/7 in 50 overs.
How did Rohit Sharma perform in the 3rd ODI at Lord's?
Rohit Sharma scored 138 off 85 balls, hitting 17 fours and five sixes — his 34th ODI century and the first ODI hundred by an Indian batter at Lord's. It is also the highest individual ODI score by an Indian against England on English soil.
Why did India lose despite scoring 360 runs?
India collapsed from 260/1 to 329/7 in a decisive middle-over spell, with Jacob Bethell's seven-over left-arm spin (1-49) and Sam Curran's 4-75 dismantling the middle order. England's death-bowling proved too disciplined for India's lower order to overcome.
Who were the top performers for England in the 3rd ODI?
Ben Duckett (141) and Jacob Bethell (91) anchored England's total of 387/3. Bethell then took 1-49 with the ball to trigger India's collapse, while Sam Curran's 4-75 sealed the win. Jos Buttler's 41 off 13 balls in the final overs was also decisive.
What is the significance of Rohit Sharma's 138 at Lord's?
It is the first ODI century by any Indian batter at Lord's and the highest individual ODI score by an Indian against England in England. The innings came amid intense speculation about Rohit's international future, making it one of the most consequential knocks of his career.
