IND vs ENG, 1st ODI: Rohit Sharma’s horrid run continues as India lose openers cheaply in chase of 249

India’s captain Rohit Sharma continues to struggle with the bat, as his poor form extended into the first ODI against England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The experienced opener, who was expected to use this series as a platform to regain his rhythm ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, endured yet another failure, departing for just 2 off 7 balls.

Rohit’s stay at the crease was cut short by Saqib Mahmood, who lured him into playing a flick shot. However, the Indian skipper mistimed his stroke, making contact with the toe end of the bat, and the ball lobbed straight into the hands of Liam Livingstone at midwicket. The dismissal further deepened concerns over Rohit’s form, as he walked back to the pavilion with a disappointed look.

Rohit Sharma’s dismal form transcends formats

Rohit Sharma’s struggles with the bat have not been limited to white-ball cricket. His poor form in Tests has been evident across multiple series, with underwhelming performances against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia.

•Vs Bangladesh: 42 runs in 4 innings

•Vs New Zealand: 91 runs in 6 innings

•Vs Australia (BGT): 31 runs in 5 innings

His red-ball slump also carried into domestic cricket, where he had an underwhelming outing in the Ranji Trophy last month. The expectation was that a shift to ODIs would bring a change in fortunes, but his failure in the first ODI against England suggests that his struggles transcend formats.

With the Champions Trophy just weeks away, India will be hoping that their skipper regains his touch before the marquee ICC event. Rohit has been India’s most reliable opener in ODIs over the years, but his current form raises serious concerns.

Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal also suffered a setback in his debut ODI match for India. Jaiswal was dismissed by Jofra Archer for 15 off 22 balls. The 22-year-old was looking to defend the delivery but edged to the keeper, leaving India reeling at 19/1. Since the dismissal of both the openers, India have recovered thanks to efforts from Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill.