England vs India, 2021: Rohit Sharma Overtakes Yuvraj Singh With His 35th Man Of The Match Award

India opener Rohit Sharma was the toast of the visitor’s amazing 157-run win over hosts England in the fourth Test match which was played at the Oval. Sharma starred in the second innings for India with a sparkling century.

India was in a spot of bother in the match after being bowled out for 191 in the first innings. However, the bowlers stepped up as Umesh Yadav picked three wickets and Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja picked two scalps each to restrict England’s lead to 99 runs, by bowling them out for 290 runs.

The second innings for India was to be crucial and Rohit Sharma decided to dig his heels in and scored a sublime 127 with 14 fours and 1 six on the way. He gave India a solid start by adding 83 runs with KL Rahul for the first wicket.

Then Cheteshwar Pujara (61) and half-centuries from Shardul Thakur and Rishabh Pant buoyed India to 466 runs, setting England a target of 368 runs. Umesh picked three wickets again and Jadeja, Bumrah, and Shardul came good with two scalps apiece as India won the Test by 157 runs as England was bowled out for 210 runs.

In the end, Rohit Sharma was named the Man of the Match for his match-setting century and this award was his 35^th Player of the Match award in international cricket and he went past Yuvraj Singh, who had 34 such awards in his brilliant India career. Now only Sourav Ganguly (37), Virat Kohli (57), and Sachin Tendulkar (76) are ahead of Rohit Sharma.

It’s My First Overseas Hundred, So Obviously My Best One: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma’s 127 was also his 8^th Test ton but his first outside India. He was elated in the post-match awards presentation and called this century as his best one.

“A great effort from the batting unit. It’s my first overseas hundred, so obviously my best one. The three-figure mark wasn’t in my mind, we knew the pressure on the batting unit, but kept our heads down and batted the situation. Not been preying on my mind, just try to get the team into a good position.

With 30, or 80, or 150-plus. I used to bat middle-order, but I know the importance of opening. Once you’re in you’ve got to make it count. It’s important to embrace the challenge, back in Durham we had time off to look at our training and technique, after WTC we had 20-25 days and that was a game-changer,” Rohit Sharma said.

England and India will play in the fifth and final Test match at Old Trafford in Manchester from September 10.

Also Read: England vs India, 2021: Michael Vaughan Finally Accepts India Are Better Team After The Oval Test