4341 days ago! Only Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain from India’s final ODI XI in Cardiff | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: It has been 4,341 days – or 11 years, 10 months and 19 days – since India last walked on the field for an ODI at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.On Thursday, India will finally return to the same venue for the second ODI of the three-match series against England. Shubman Gill’s side now lead the series 1-0 after a convincing six-wicket win in the opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham.But for many Cardiff fans, this game is more than just a series. It marks the return of two familiar faces – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – at a ground where they last played together in India’s famous victory in 2014.When India last played an ODI at Sophia Gardens in August 2014, Mahendra Singh Dhoni led the side to a dominant 133-run (D/L method) win over England.Fast forward almost 12 years, and only Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain from the Indian playing XI in the current squad.England, too, have only two players from that match – Joe Root and Jos Buttler.The return of four players adds a nostalgic touch to Thursday’s contest.
The sun Suresh Raina stole the show
India produced one of their best ODI performances in Cardiff in 2014.Batting first, they posted 304/6 in 50 overs, powered by a brilliant century from Suresh Raina, who smashed 100 off just 75 balls, hitting 12 fours and three sixes.Rohit Sharma contributed a consistent 52 off 87 balls, while captain MS Dhoni added 52 not out in 51 deliveries.Virat Kohli, however, suffered a rare setback, getting out for a duck.Rain revised England’s target to 295 in 47 overs, but the hosts could never get going. India’s bowlers bundled them out for 161 in 38.1 overs, sealing a 133-run victory by the Duckworth-Lewis method.Raina was named Player of the Match, and India won the five-match series 3-1, with one match abandoned due to rain.
Kohli’s Cardiff masterclass 2011
Interestingly, Kohli featured in both the ODIs that India played at the Sophia Gardens.His first appearance came in 2011, when he played one of the best innings of his early ODI career.The young batsman smashed 107 off 93 balls, but his century ended in a loss as England chased down a revised target to win by six wickets (D/L method) with 10 balls to spare.
Kohli and Rohit against England
Kohli has enjoyed great success against England in ODIs over the years.In 39 ODIs, he scored 1,402 runs at an average of 40.05, including three centuries and 10 half-centuries.Rohit, on the other hand, has scored 857 runs in 24 ODIs against England at an average of 45.10, with three hundreds and four fifties to his name.
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