India showcased a commanding performance, crushing England by 142 runs in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to complete a clean sweep of the three-match series.
This victory further cements India’s dominance, following their 4-1 triumph in the preceding T20I series.
Batting first, India set a formidable target of 357 runs. In response, England struggled to gain momentum and were bowled out for 214 in just 34.2 overs. With this emphatic win, India recorded their 12th series clean sweep since 2011, more than any other national side.
Chasing such a daunting target was always going to be a challenge for an England side that has struggled with batting cohesion throughout the tour. The English openers gave their team a glimmer of hope, adding 60 runs in just over six overs. However, Arshdeep Singh quickly turned the tide in India’s favor, dismissing Ben Duckett and Phil Salt in quick succession.
After the initial Powerplay, England faced further setbacks as Tom Banton and Joe Root attempted to build stability but struggled against India’s spinners. Both eventually fell, allowing India to tighten their grip on the game. With wickets falling at regular intervals, the responsibility fell on Harry Brook to salvage England’s innings. Despite a promising start, Brook and Jos Buttler were dismissed by Harshit Rana, leaving England reeling at 175 for 8. Gus Atkinson played a valiant knock of 38 runs off 19 balls, but Axar Patel’s sharp bowling ensured India sealed a dominant victory.
Earlier, England’s captain Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to field. India’s innings saw early trouble when Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply. However, Shubman Gill played a spectacular knock, scoring his 7th ODI century, building crucial partnerships with Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. England’s Adil Rashid managed to pick up key wickets, but India’s lower order ensured the team crossed the 350-run mark.
Post-match, Shreyas Iyer praised the team’s resilience, crediting Kohli and Gill for laying the foundation. Jos Buttler admitted England had been outplayed, acknowledging India’s strong variations in bowling. Player of the Match and Player of the Series, Shubman Gill, expressed satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing the importance of partnerships. Skipper Rohit Sharma lauded the team’s execution, stating that India approached the series with confidence and skill, a strategy that has positioned them as a formidable side ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy.