Former India captain Rohit Sharma has revealed why England remains one of his favourite places to play international cricket, hours after producing a magnificent century at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Although India suffered defeat in the third ODI and conceded the series to England, Rohit’s breathtaking 138 off 110 balls stood out as the biggest highlight for the visitors. The innings, decorated with 17 fours and five sixes, not only silenced his critics but also saw him become the first Indian batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s, further strengthening his remarkable legacy in the format.
Rohit Sharma explains why England is a special place to play
Speaking in a video shared by the BCCI after the match, Rohit spoke warmly about his experiences of playing in England and highlighted the unique challenges that make the country a favourite destination for cricketers.
The veteran Indian opener’s comments reflect the respect he has for English conditions, which are widely regarded as one of the toughest tests for batters. Swing-friendly pitches, changing weather conditions and high-quality pace attacks often make scoring runs a demanding task. For Rohit, however, those very challenges make every innings more rewarding.
“I love playing in England. There’s no doubt about it. The atmosphere, the ground, the pitches. When you turn up here to play any sort of format, it challenges you in different ways and that’s what as a cricketer you want. You want to be challenged all the time. I had my time in the middle. I enjoyed it,” Rohit said.
His century at Lord’s perfectly illustrated that mindset. After India found themselves chasing a formidable target, Rohit took responsibility at the top of the order and played with a blend of composure and aggression. He countered England’s pace attack with authoritative strokeplay, finding gaps consistently while punishing anything loose.
Historic century despite India’s series defeat
While Rohit’s innings was not enough to prevent India from losing both the match and the ODI series, it was a knock that will be remembered for years. By becoming the first Indian batter to register an ODI century at Lord’s, he achieved a milestone that had eluded some of the greatest names in Indian cricket.
The hundred also arrived at a crucial moment in his career, with retirement speculation and questions over his future dominating discussions in recent weeks. Rather than responding with words, Rohit answered in the best possible manner—with a commanding performance on one of cricket’s biggest stages. As India now shift their focus to upcoming assignments and the road towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, Rohit’s form will be one of the biggest positives to take from the England tour. Despite the disappointing series result, his record-breaking century and his appreciation for the challenge of English cricket reaffirm why he continues to be one of India’s most valuable players in the 50-over format.
