Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Rohit Sharma after he scored a majestic century in the second ODI against England at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on Sunday. India registered a four-wicket win to take a 2-0 lead in the series as the hosts chased down 305 with 33 balls to spare.

Rohit was under the pump for his mundane form in the recent past and thus it was a crucial knock for the right-hander. The Indian opener scored a brilliant knock of 119 runs off just 90 balls with the help of 12 fours and seven sixes.

Rohit brought his 32nd ODI century off just 76 balls when he smashed Adil Rashid for a six over long-off. The Indian captain also added 136 runs for the opening alliance with his partner Shubman Gill, who scored 60 runs off 52 balls.

“It feels good when we win the match but even better when Rohit Sharma scores a hundred. Rohit Sharma returning to form is the big headline. There are many aspects to that. The first is just the player aspect. In the last 10 matches or so (including Tests), he had an average of nearly 11, scored just one fifty, and had plenty of single-digit scores,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

The reputed commentator added it was crucial for Rohit to spend time at the crease and silence his critics.

“There were serious question marks and no one can deny that. The outcry had become louder when he got out in Nagpur. So the question was how he was going to respond. Was he going to go hammer and tongs, or give himself time? I was convinced that Rohit had to play 80-100 balls. The form wasn’t going to return without staying at the ground for 25-30 overs,” he observed.

Chopra believes Rohit kept growing in confidence as the innings progressed and he was able to bring his best for the team.

“He started aggressively here. Luck was in his favor once, a catch wasn’t dropped but the ball didn’t hit the middle of the bat. However, after that, he just turned it on and how. He hit a straight six and then a six with a flick. I was a little wary that he shouldn’t get the leading edge while playing the flick, but that didn’t happen,” he said.

“Then he hit a six off (Mark) Wood. He was absolutely sensational. It was poetic justice that he hit a six off a spinner to reach his hundred. When he scores a century, the match never goes close. It was a chase of more than 300 runs and nearly six overs were left,” Chopra observed.

The final and third ODI between India and England will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.