Rohit Sharma’s elegant unbeaten century made it a walk in the park for India as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory against England to clinch the three-match T20 International series 2-1 in Bristol on Sunday.
The Indian vice-captain made a target of 199 look ridiculously easy on a small Bristol ground after the visiting bowlers did a commendable job at the back end to restrict the hosts to a sub-par score.
Rohit stroked his way to 100 not out, his third T20I hundred, with the help of 11 fours and five sixes, adding 89 runs for the third wicket with Kohli, who got his first score of note on the tour of UK.
Hardik Pandya, who shone with the ball earlier with a four-wicket haul, also made a significant contribution with the bat. Pandya hit 33 not out off just 14 balls as India reached to 201 for 3 in 18.4 overs.
The series win set the right tone for the gruelling challenges ahead with the three-match ODI series, up next, starting from July 12.
The all-round performance also meant that India are undefeated in a three-match T20I series, winning all eight that they have been involved in.
Twitter was abuzz with praise for The Hitman, who now has now three T20I centuries to go with three ODI double centuries.
Such clean hitting by @ImRo45!!
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 8, 2018
This innings was a pure joy to watch. Hope this form translates to the ODIs. (Thanks for helping my 19th over prediction come true! 😜) pic.twitter.com/xZnyAFm1Sj
Love Rohit Sharma.. He is God’s gift to batting #INDvENGT20
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) July 8, 2018
Sheer unadulterated class today from Rohit Sharma.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 8, 2018
#RohitSharma right now#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/5NvptzfmAO
— Rohit Sharma (@imWrong45) July 8, 2018
Remarkable individual performances for India in this game:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) July 8, 2018
MS Dhoni - 5 catches & 1 run out
Rohit Sharma - 100*
Hardik Pandya - 33* & 4/38
Batting, bowling, fielding! #EngvInd
Rohit Sharma now has more runs in international cricket than the total number of retweets that tweets ridiculing him have gathered
— The Bad Doctor (@DOCTORATLARGE) July 8, 2018
What a Victory.... Wahhhh Maza agaya.... Well Played Team...@ImRo45 the HITMAN... #TeamIndia#INDvsENG
— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) July 8, 2018
Rohit Sharma Haters Right Now #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/yBh6cMtxVF
— Dhaval Patel (@dhaval241086) July 8, 2018
This is how rohit sharma will be feeling now #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/eqqnld5iFr
— Mask (@Mr_Lolwwa) July 8, 2018
I will step up to say that since Sachin, one Indian batsman I would pay to watch is #RohitSharma - first Indian to score three T20I centuries and only the second overall. #ENGvIND
— Jaspreet Sahni (@JaspreetSSahni) July 8, 2018
There was plenty of praise for Hardik Pandya as well, while India’s all-round performance was rightly lauded.
Good bowling by our very own Ninja and KungFuPandya to get us back into the game. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/jWhbCJsDNS
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 8, 2018
Well done #TeamIndia 🇮🇳 on winning the T20I series. Great knock @ImRo45 and a brilliant allround performance by @hardikpandya7 today. Good luck for the ODIs 👍 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/6rE791vGEI
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) July 8, 2018
Hardik Pandya celebrated Rohit’s 100 as if it was his own. Hallmark of Indian teams over the last few years. Celebrating each other’s success. Secret of the teams success. 👍👍
— Yusuf Unjhawala 🇮🇳 (@YusufDFI) July 8, 2018
Well done team India to win the T20 series. Need to win the test series.
Without @BhuviOfficial and @Jaspritbumrah93 still beating England. Shows the depth in the Indian game at the moment. Well played Hardik and Rohit.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) July 8, 2018
Hardik Pandya's last ball six was a birthday gift to Dhoni. #INDvENG
— Gaitonde Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) July 8, 2018
England have been setting their home stadiums ablaze in ODI cricket, but India have brought plenty of fire, and some guile
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) July 8, 2018
Chasing down 198 is credit to batsmen no doubt, but bowlers had a bigger role to play in India's win today
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 8, 2018
And for the final word...
Perfect weather.. perfect conditions and a perfect result for #TeamIndia. Congratulations on the series win and all the best for the upcoming ODI matches. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/hHUEfbSoLd
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 8, 2018