Before the second ODI between India and England in Cardiff, recent and past results at Sophia Gardens had favored teams batting second. Eight of the last 12 matches there, including the most recent four, went to the chasing side.
India briefly challenged that pattern on Thursday when Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna removed openers Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell early, leaving England at 8 for 2 while chasing 234.
Joe Root then anchored the innings with an unbeaten 99 from 133 balls, guiding England to a four-wicket victory with nearly six overs remaining. Gus Atkinson finished unbeaten on 23 as the hosts leveled the series. The deciding match is set for Lord’s on Sunday.
England lost two early wickets to catches behind the stumps, raising hopes among Indian supporters. Skipper Harry Brook fell soon after for 16, but Root stabilized the innings and built key partnerships with Sam Curran and Will Jacks.
India had earlier posted a total led by contributions from the top order, with Shreyas Iyer scoring 66. The rest of the batting struggled, and England’s pace attack claimed nine of the ten wickets.
Rohit Sharma made 26, Shubman Gill scored 31, and Virat Kohli reached 65 before being dismissed. Iyer played fluently, but the lower order collapsed quickly. Bumrah remained not out on 20.
