A 142-run victory is the real hospitality that the hosts ensured in the final leg of England’s tour of India. India already won the first and second ODI matches by four wickets, but the 142 runs is what is ‘cherry on the top’. It all seemed in control and at ease in the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad with India causing the final blow winning series 3-0.
Shubhman Gill scored 112 runs in his 150th ODI appearance, and his seventh century in the format. India owed much to the opener for the victory margin. Gill hit 87 in Nagpur and 60 in Cuttack, the first two ODIs, he was pristine ending up with three joint figures. The ton was even special as it came for the opener after 14 innings.
Further, it was Shreyas Iyer’s power packed innings of 78 runs that boosted up the target. Not to forget, Virat Kohli’s 52 runs that came after a long wait and was also much needed when Rohit Sharma lost an early wicket. This was Virat’s 123rd fifty plus ODI score. The lower middle order cameo was by KL Rahul who scored a 29-ball 40 contributing to the target ahead.
For England, it was Adil Rashid’s 4 for 64, his career best bowling figures, yet all in vain. Overall, let us call it England’s grim batting, a worrying sight ahead of ICC Champions Trophy. England’s tour of India was quite a disappointment as they lost seven out of eight matches. The defeat counts to 16 ODI losses for England out of the 23 it has played since the 2023 World Cup.
India put up the target of 357 runs on board, their highest at the venue and third joint highest against England. They were bowled out eventually, losing last three wickets in the remaining seven deliveries. The visitors took it steady, they were 128-2 by the end of 18th over. Varun Chakravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Shami were rested for the match. It was the trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh who did the magic. England was folded off at 214 with 94 balls still remaining, falling short of a whopping 142 runs of the target.
Now, Head coach Brendon McCullum has a tough job at his hands, as to bring the team back in form with only a span of 9 days as they face Australia in Champions Trophy. But for India, it is a great news ahead of Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh with all its players back in form.