NEW DELHI: It has been 4,341 days – or 11 years, 10 months and 19 days – since India last walked onto the field for an ODI at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.On Thursday, India will finally return to the same venue for the second ODI of the three-match series against England. Shubman Gill’s side already leads the series 1-0 after a convincing six-wicket victory in the opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham.But for many fans in Cardiff, this match is about more than just the series. It marks the return of two familiar faces – Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – to a ground where they last played together in India’s famous win back in 2014.When India last played an ODI at Sophia Gardens in August 2014, Mahendra Singh Dhoni led the side to a dominant 133-run (D/L method) victory over England.Fast forward almost 12 years, and only Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain from that Indian playing XI in the current squad.England, too, have just two players from that match – Joe Root and Jos Buttler.The return of these four players adds a nostalgic touch to Thursday’s contest.
The day Suresh Raina stole the show
India produced one of their best ODI performances at Cardiff in 2014.Batting first, they posted 304/6 in 50 overs, powered by a magnificent century from Suresh Raina, who smashed 100 off just 75 balls, hitting 12 fours and three sixes.Rohit Sharma contributed a steady 52 off 87 balls, while captain MS Dhoni added an unbeaten 52 off 51 deliveries.Virat Kohli, however, endured a rare failure, getting out for a duck.Rain revised England’s target to 295 in 47 overs, but the hosts never got going. India’s bowlers bundled them out for 161 in 38.1 overs, sealing a 133-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method.Raina was named Player of the Match, and India went on to win the five-match series 3-1, with one match abandoned because of rain.
Kohli’s Cardiff masterclass 2011
Interestingly, Kohli has featured in both ODIs India have played at Sophia Gardens.His first appearance came in 2011, when he played one of the finest innings of his early ODI career.The then-young batter struck 107 off 93 balls, but his century ended in a losing cause as England chased down the revised target to win by six wickets (D/L method) with 10 balls to spare.
Kohli and Rohit vs England
Kohli has enjoyed considerable success against England in ODIs over the years.In 39 ODIs, he has 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, with three hundreds and four fifties to his name.
