India demonstrated their dominance in the ODI format with a commanding 142-run victory over England in the third ODI, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This match further emphasized India's superiority in the series, culminating in a comprehensive 3-0 clean sweep. The match was marked by a standout performance from Shubman Gill, who scored an impressive 112 runs on his 50th ODI appearance. This allowed India to post a formidable total of 356 runs, showcasing their batting resilience against a backdrop of challenges posed by England's bowling attack, particularly Adil Rashid, who delivered an outstanding performance with figures of 4 for 64, marking his career-best in India.
While England attempted to chase down the 357-run target, their innings was marked by inconsistency and lack of partnerships. Despite Gus Atkinson's commendable effort of 38 runs off just 19 deliveries, which made him one of the team’s top scorers alongside Tom Banton, the batting collapse rampant in the middle order left them stranded at 214 runs. This defeat not only highlighted England's ongoing struggles in limited overs cricket but also extended their series of defeats, marking seven losses out of eight matches in this tour. Moreover, since the 2023 World Cup, the team has faced 16 losses in 23 ODIs, creating a significant concern for the coaching staff and management.
At the start of their innings, England appeared stable, reaching 126 for 2 by the end of the 18th over. However, the middle order’s collapse was swift, leading to a dismal score of 175 for 8 in the 31st over. India's bowling attack, comprising Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Arshdeep Singh, capitalized on the opportunity, especially with the absence of prominent bowlers such as Varun Chakravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami, who were rested for this match.
Both teams had their eyes on this final ODI as a crucial chance to fine-tune their squads ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy. India made several changes aimed at exploring different combinations, while England's decision to bowl first after batting in previous matches in this series showed a tactical shift to adapt to conditions. Gill seized his opportunity to bat first, building on his previous scores of 87 and 60 in the series, and exhibited a remarkable batting display that ended a 14-innings match without a century.
Supporting Gill were influential knocks from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Kohli scored 52 from 50 balls, contributing significantly to India’s total, while Iyer played a dynamic innings, scoring 78 runs off 64 balls. Their partnership resulted in substantial stands of 116 and 104 runs. Additionally, KL Rahul's brisk 40 off 29 balls provided the much-needed momentum at the lower order. The cumulative effort lifted India to their highest score at this venue and marked their third-highest score against England overall.
England's most significant moment perhaps came when they dismissed Rohit Sharma for a first-ball duck – a major psychological advantage. Mark Wood's thunderous delivery managed to catch Sharma off guard, confirming that England's bowling, despite its later challenges, had the potential to disrupt India’s batting.
As Gill and Kohli forged ahead, the intent and strategic partnerships became evident. Gill reached his century in a commendable 95 balls, showcasing an array of shots and timing. However, his innings ended following an uncharacteristic attempt to hack at Rashid’s delivery, leading to his dismissal. Shreyas Iyer also fell soon after, edging one to the keeper as India’s innings concluded at 356, culminating with a flurry of wickets in the last over.
As the chase began, England sought to maintain the required run rate. With an impressive start from Ben Duckett, who initiative went on to score 34 runs, the team appeared to establish a foundation. However, their early promise dissolved as the wickets continued to tumble with alarming rapidity. Kuldeep Yadav picked up a crucial wicket to dismiss Banton, followed shortly by the fall of Joe Root to Axar Patel. The lower order crumbled, and the failure to solidify a partnership characterized England’s batting collapse.
As the innings progressed, England faced a nightmare scenario, exhibit an alarming propensity for losing wickets consistently. The toll of regular dismissals became evident, and their downfall culminated in a disappointing end, bowled out for 214 with a staggering 94 balls remaining.
The match result leaves head coach Brendon McCullum with pressing concerns as England prepares for the Champions Trophy, which commences against Australia on February 22. In stark contrast, India gears up for their opener against Bangladesh two days earlier, projecting a sense of confidence and dominance heading into the tournament. With this outstanding series, India solidified their credentials as the favorites in pursuit of another ICC trophy, reflecting their readiness and strategic execution on the field.