The grand finale of the England vs India ODI series at Lord’s on July 19, 2026, delivered a thrilling spectacle of high-stakes white-ball cricket. With the three-match series tied at 1-1, both teams stepped onto the iconic London turf aiming for ultimate dominance. What followed was a runs-galore encounter where England edged out India by 27 runs, sealing the series 2-1 despite an unforgettable, emotional effort from India’s seasoned opener, Rohit Sharma.

Rohit Sharma celebrates his brilliant Lord’s century with a flying kiss for wife Ritika

Rohit answered mounting criticism in trademark fashion, producing a magnificent century under immense pressure. Walked out under intense scrutiny following endless speculation regarding his international future, the veteran opener channelled every ounce of determination into a masterclass 138 off 110 deliveries, laced with 17 fours and 5 sixes.

His milestone carried profound weight, marking his 34th ODI hundred and making him the first Indian batter to register an ODI century at Lord’s. Skipping any theatrical bat-raising toward the Members’ Balcony, Rohit instinctively turned his eyes toward the stands.

Up in the pavilion, his wife Ritika Sajdeh was visibly emotional, wiping away tears after a grueling week of public chatter. Rohit acknowledged her unwavering presence with a heartfelt flying kiss, a silent, powerful gesture of solidarity that instantly became the emotional heartbeat of the match.

Here’s the video:

Ritsy getting emotional and Ro dedicating the moment to her with a flying kiss… this is the kind of moment I’ll never forget😭❤️
NO NAZAR 🧿🧿🧿🧿 pic.twitter.com/FgoGEsBNE8

— Nehhaaa 🌻 (@nehhaaa__) July 19, 2026

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India falls short in a mammoth chase against England in the final ODI at Lord’s

Earlier in the day, England laid down a massive total after being put in to bat, posting an imposing 387/3 in their 50 overs. Opener Ben Duckett led the charge with a blistering 141 off 135 balls, well-supported by Jacob Bethell, who smashed 91 off 93 deliveries to build a solid 192-run opening stand. Joe Root provided stability with an unbeaten 74 off 48 balls, but the real knockout blow came from skipper Jos Buttler. Buttler launched a ruthless blitzkrieg, hammering an unbeaten 41 from just 13 balls (including 4 fours and 3 sixes) as England plundered 82 runs off the final five overs.

Among the Indian bowlers, Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets for 69 runs, while Prince Yadav took one, but Gurnoor Brar took heavy punishment, yielding 97 runs in his 10 overs.

Chasing a daunting 388, India mounted a spirited response. Shubman Gill provided a steady 77 off 84 balls at the top, stitching a 147-run opening partnership with Rohit. Following Gill’s departure, Virat Kohli contributed a brisk 74 off 60 balls, forming a 113-run second-wicket stand with Rohit to keep India well in the hunt at 260/1 in the 39th over.

However, once Bethell broke through to clean bowl Rohit for 138, India’s middle order faltered under the escalating required run rate. Sam Curran turned the game on its head with a fiery spell, removing Ishan Kishan (14), Shreyas Iyer (0), Kohli (74), and Axar Patel (23) to finish with match-winning figures of 4/75. Jofra Archer chipped in by bowling KL Rahul for 12, leaving India restricted to 360/7 as England secured a 27-run victory.

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