Speculations over Rohit’s future have dominated the build-up to this match. However, the BCCI has made it clear that the ODI for the home team will not be the last international match for the veteran opener.
Even so, Rohit is keen to silence his critics after poor performances in the first two games of the series.
Rohit hopes to rediscover his touch
At his best, Rohit is known for his ability to pull the ball effortlessly at pace and control spin. But so far, the 39-year-old looks a far cry from his fluent self, sparking fresh debate over his suitability for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
Cardiff’s two-paced pitch did not help his cause as he took nine consecutive penalties before being eliminated.
A better batting wicket at the ‘Home of Cricket’ might provide Rohit the ideal opportunity to play a signature innings.
As a former captain of India, Rohit often sets the tone with his attack during the overs. His biggest challenge on Sunday will be dealing with the pace and bounce of Jofra Archer in the opener.
Gill, Kohli key to India’s batting
Current skipper Shubman Gill looked to be in good contact with the bat and will look to convert his start into a big hundred after Cardiff threw away his wicket.
Despite Rohit’s struggles, Virat Kohli continues to dominate in the ODI format. He looked to hit another century in the second ODI before losing to Archer, triggering a collapse in the middle order that proved costly for India.
India will hope to avoid a repeat of the same mistake in the series final.
His presence in the side also remains a topic of conversation after he replaced KL Rahul due to illness in the last game. Kishan, like several other Indian batsmen, found it difficult to counter England’s short-ball tactics.
Shreyas Iyer has been one of the positive players in India’s middle-order, especially as he played with confidence against leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
squad
England: Harry Brooke (captain), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, James Coles, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Joe Flagg Adihid, Saqib Mahmood, Tol Lage.
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaspreet Bumrah, Prasideep Dev, Ashdul Haf, Hadi
