Ahmedabad: India achieved a comprehensive series victory over England, winning the third ODI by 142 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to outstanding bowling and impressive performances from Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Virat Kohli.
This match concluded India's successful home series in white-ball cricket against England, where they secured a 4-1 victory in T20Is and a clean sweep of 3-0 in ODIs. This marks Gautam Gambhir's first ODI series win as head coach.
Chasing a target of 357 runs, England's openers, Ben Duckett and Phil Salt, provided a strong start. Duckett was particularly aggressive against Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, hitting four consecutive boundaries off Arshdeep in the fifth over.
England reached 50 runs in just 5.2 overs.
The opening partnership of 60 runs was broken by Arshdeep, who dismissed Duckett for 34 runs off 22 balls, which included eight fours. A spectacular catch by Rohit Sharma at mid-off shifted the momentum in India's favor, leaving them at 60/1 in 6.2 overs.
Salt's attempt at an uppercut resulted in a catch for Axar Patel, sending him back for 23 runs off 21 balls, with four boundaries. Arshdeep claimed both openers, leaving England at 80/2 in 8.4 overs.
Tom Banton, making his international return after five years, partnered with Joe Root. Banton greeted Washington Sundar with a four and a six, while Root took a more measured approach against the Indian spinners. England crossed the 100-run mark in 13.3 overs.
Banton was dismissed for 38 runs off 41 balls, caught behind by KL Rahul off a Kuldeep Yadav delivery, which included four boundaries and two sixes. England's score stood at 126/3 after 18 overs.
England's fortunes took a turn for the worse as Root, scoring 24 off 29 balls with two boundaries, was dismissed by Axar. Harshit Rana and Hardik Pandya then dismantled the middle order and tail, leaving England struggling at 193/9.
Axar also bowled Gus, who had contributed a brisk 38 runs off 19 balls, including six fours and a six. Ultimately, England was bowled out for 214 runs in 34.2 overs.
In a remarkable display, Shubman Gill scored a century, supported by solid fifties from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, propelling India to a total of 356 runs in their 50 overs during the third ODI against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, England made a strong start by dismissing Indian captain Rohit Sharma for just one run off two balls, caught behind by Phil Salt off a Mark Wood delivery, which delayed Rohit's milestone of 11,000 ODI runs. India found themselves at 6/1 after two overs.
Following this early setback, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli worked to stabilize the innings. Gill took on the role of aggressor, while Virat played some elegant shots against the pace attack, aiming to regain his form. By the end of the first 10 overs, India had reached 52/1, with Gill on 28* and Virat on 17*.
As the innings progressed, Virat effectively countered the spin bowling, striking Joe Root for four boundaries. His diverse range of shots was evident as he utilized cuts and sweeps proficiently.
India crossed the 100-run threshold in 16.4 overs, with Virat achieving his 73rd ODI fifty in just 50 balls, which included seven fours and a six. Gill also reached his fifty in 51 balls, scoring nine fours and a six.
The 116-run partnership was disrupted by Adil Rashid's spin, which trapped Virat for the fifth time in his career, as he scored a solid 52 off 55 balls, featuring seven fours and a six. At this point, India stood at 122/2 in 19 overs, following a productive over from Liam Livingstone where the duo accumulated 16 runs, including a six each from Virat and Gill.
Shreyas Iyer and Gill continued to build on the momentum, propelling India to the 150-run mark in 23.3 overs.
India reached 200 runs in 30.4 overs, with Iyer and Gill forming a partnership worth 78 runs.
With a boundary off Mark Wood, Gill celebrated his seventh ODI century in 95 balls, which included seven fours and a six.
Iyer also achieved his half-century in 43 balls, hitting six fours and a six.
Rashid once again proved to be the partnership disruptor, dismissing Gill for 112 off 102 balls, which included 14 fours and three sixes, thus ending a 104-run partnership with Iyer. At this stage, India was at 226/3 in 34.3 overs.
India crossed the 250-run mark in 37.3 overs.
Rashid once again concluded another partnership, dismissing Iyer, who was caught behind by Salt for 78 runs off 64 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. At this point, India stood at 259/4 in 38.2 overs.
Hardik Pandya then took to the crease, attempting to assert his dominance over Rashid with two consecutive sixes.
Nevertheless, the bowler had the final say, sending Pandya back for 17 runs off nine balls, which included two sixes. India’s score was now 289/5 in 41 overs.
Axar joined forces with KL Rahul, helping India reach the 300-run milestone in 42.3 overs. However, Tom Banton, positioned at long-off, dismissed Axar for 13 runs off 12 balls from a delivery by Root, leaving India at 307/6 in 43.5 overs.
Despite maintaining a strong run-rate, India continued to lose wickets, with Saqib Mahmood's pace proving too much for KL Rahul, who was out for 40 runs off 29 balls, featuring three fours and a six. India was at 333/7 in 46.4 overs.
Buttler caught the ball while Atkinson dismissed Harshit for 13 runs off 10 balls, bringing India to 353/8 in 49 overs. Wickets continued to tumble as Wood took out Washington Sundar for 14 runs off 14 balls, leaving India at 353/9 in 49.3 overs.
Arshdeep was run out by Salt, concluding the innings at 356 in 50 overs.
Rashid delivered an impressive performance, claiming 4 wickets for 64 runs in his ten overs. Wood contributed with 2 wickets for 45 runs in nine overs, while Root, Atkinson, and Mahmood each took one wicket.
Brief Scores: India: 356 (Shubman Gill 112, Shreyas Iyer 78, Adil Rashid 4/64) defeated England: 214 (Tom Banton 38, Ben Duckett 34, Axar Patel 2/22).
