- MS Dhoni attended Lord’s ODI, drawing significant media attention.
- His presence fueled ongoing speculation about Rohit Sharma’s future.
- BCCI denied retirement rumors; England batted first, built strong partnership.
- India’s bowling attack featured changes due to Jasprit Bumrah’s injury.
MS Dhoni was among the familiar faces at Lord’s on Sunday as India took on England in the deciding third ODI. The former India captain attended the match with his wife Sakshi Dhoni and family friend Kriti Sanon. His appearance quickly caught attention, especially with speculation continuing around Rohit Sharma’s ODI future despite repeated denials from the BCCI.
Dhoni’s Presence Gets Fans Talking
A video of Dhoni at Lord’s has gone viral on social media after broadcasters showed him watching the match from one of the hospitality areas at the ground.
The former captain has been in London for the past few weeks. He was also spotted during India’s T20I series against England after celebrating his birthday on July 7.
This time, however, the timing of his appearance has sparked fresh discussion. The third ODI has been surrounded by rumours claiming it could be Rohit Sharma’s final match for India in the format.
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WATCH VIDEO
THALA DHONI AT LORD’S 🥹💛 pic.twitter.com/oNta9NnRn2
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 19, 2026
Thala Dhoni, Sakshi and Kriti Sanon at the Lord’s ❤️ pic.twitter.com/j6T9iNJY0Y
— DHONI Trends™ (@TrendsDhoni) July 19, 2026
The BCCI has rejected those reports. Secretary Devajit Saikia recently told PTI that there had been no discussion about Rohit retiring after the Lord’s ODI. Still, the speculation has continued throughout the series.
Dhoni’s appearance therefore became another talking point for supporters following the match from the ground and on television.
England Dominate After Winning The Toss
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bat first. His decision paid off as Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell put India under pressure from the start.
The pair added 192 runs for the opening wicket before Prasidh Krishna dismissed Bethell for 91 from 93 balls. He struck 11 fours and two sixes before falling just nine runs short of a century.
Duckett continued to anchor the innings as England built a commanding position.
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India entered the match without Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the game because of a knee injury sustained during the second ODI in Cardiff.
The visitors reshaped their bowling attack, bringing in Arshdeep Singh and young fast bowler Prince Yadav. Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar completed a four-man pace attack, while Axar Patel was the lone frontline spinner.
Rohit Sharma Remains Under The Spotlight
Attention will now turn to India’s chase, with Rohit Sharma set to open alongside captain Shubman Gill.
The experienced opener has remained at the centre of retirement speculation over the past week, although the board has maintained that he remains part of India’s plans.
Whether those rumours disappear after the Lord’s ODI remains to be seen. For now, Dhoni’s presence at the historic venue has only added another layer of interest to one of the biggest matches of India’s white-ball season.
