New Delhi: It has been 4,341 days, 11 years, 10 months and 19 days since India last played an ODI at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.India will finally be back at the same venue on Thursday for the second ODI of the three-match series against England. Shubman Gill’s side already lead the series 1-0 after a convincing six-wicket win in the opener at Edgbaston, Birmingham.But for many fans in Cardiff, this game is more than just a series. This marks the return of two familiar faces – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – The last venue they played together was India’s famous victory in 2014.The last time India played an ODI at Sophia Gardens was in August 2014, when Mahendra Singh Dhoni led the team to a 133-run (D/L) win over England.Fast forward nearly 12 years and the only Indians left in the current squad are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.England also featured only two players in that match – Joe Root and Jos Buttler.The return of these four players added a touch of nostalgia to Thursday’s game.
that day Suresh Raina steal the show
In 2014, India put up one of their best ODI performances in Cardiff.Batting first, they posted 304/6 in 50 overs, helped by a brilliant century from Suresh Raina, who hit 100 off just 75 balls, hitting 12 fours and 3 sixes.Rohit Sharma contributed a steady 52 off 87 balls while the captain MS Dhoni An unbeaten 52 out of 51 games.Virat Kohli, however, suffered a rare failure as he went out and caught a duck.Rain revised England’s target to 295 in 47 overs, but the hosts were unable to make headway. The Indian bowlers bowled them out for 161 runs in 38.1 overs, registering a 133-run win through the Duckworth-Lewis method.Raina was named man of the match as India won the five-match series 3-1, with one match canceled due to rain.
Kohli Cardiff Masterclass 2011
Interestingly, Kohli featured in both ODIs played by India at Sophia Gardens.His first appearance came in 2011, when he played one of the best innings of his early ODI career.The then young batsman scored 107 off 93 balls but his century ended in failure as England chased the revised target to win by 6 wickets (D/L method) with 10 balls to spare.
Kohli and Rohit vs England
Kohli has enjoyed considerable success in ODIs against England over the years.In 39 ODIs, he scored 1,402 runs at an average of 40.05, including three centuries and 10 half-centuries.Rohit, meanwhile, has scored 857 runs in 24 ODIs against England at an average of 45.10, including three hundred and four fifties.
