Rohit Sharma would want to sign off with a century at Lord's, says Parthiv Patel

Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel believes Rohit Sharma has the capability and experience to craft a significant performance at Lord's this Sunday, even after two disappointing starts in the ongoing ODI series against England. With reports suggesting the Lord's fixture could mark the veteran opener's final international appearance, Patel remains hopeful the experienced batter can deliver when it matters most.

Rohit managed just 11 in the opening ODI at Edgbaston and scored 26 off 47 balls in Cardiff. The series is level at 1-1 heading into the decider. The winner-takes-all finale at Lord's is scheduled for Sunday, July 19. Rohit has an impressive record in England across 29 ODIs, having scored 1,465 runs at an average of 61.04, with seven centuries.

"If the Lord's ODI is indeed the last match of his career, Rohit Sharma would want to sign off with a century. He is more than capable of doing that. We've seen it throughout his career; after two or three low scores, he often bounces back with a match-winning knock in the very next innings," Parthiv Patel said on JioHotstar.

"The difference between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has always been consistency. Rohit may not score heavily in every game, but when he does, he plays a substantial innings and often ends up winning the Player of the Match award. He didn't look comfortable in this game. He was troubled by the uneven bounce and never found his rhythm. But this is another opportunity for him to silence his critics. It has happened many times before, and he has always responded with the bat. So, if the Lord's ODI is indeed his final match, I hope he plays an innings that people remember for a long time," Parthiv added.

Can Rohit Sharma silence critics with a memorable Lord's performance?

The veteran opener's recent struggles have intensified scrutiny around his place in India's long-term ODI setup. Reportedly, the BCCI's senior selection committee has informed Rohit that he is no longer part of India's long-term ODI plans beyond the England tour, with the focus now on preparing a squad for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. However, there has been no official confirmation from the BCCI or Rohit Sharma about retirement or exclusion from future squads.

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The decider at the home of cricket on Sunday will determine not just the series victor, but potentially mark the closing chapter of one of modern cricket's finest 50-over careers.