Ahmedabad: A scintillating century from Shubman Gill and a clinical allround performance propelled India to a commanding 142-run victory over England, sealing the five-match ODI series with an unassailable 3-0 lead here on Wednesday.
Put in to bat, India posted a formidable 356, with Gill anchoring the innings with a majestic 112. The young opener was well-supported by Virat Kohli (52) and Shreyas Iyer (78), ensuring India capitalised on a strong foundation despite a spirited late fightback from England’s bowlers.
England’s chase began with promise as an injured Ben Duckett (34 off 22) and Phil Salt (23 off 21) attacked early, giving the visitors a rapid start. However, yet another dramatic middle-order collapse saw them lose seven wickets for just 67 runs, ultimately folding for 214. Tom Banton’s 38 was the only real resistance before a late cameo from Gus Atkinson (38 off 19) merely delayed the inevitable.
England made early inroads after winning the toss, with Mark Wood dismissing Rohit Sharma (1) in the second over. However, Kohli and Gill steadied the ship with a crucial stand before leg-spinner Adil Rashid, England’s best bowler on the night (4/64), provided breakthroughs. Despite Rashid’s efforts, India surged ahead, thanks to Iyer’s fluent 78 and a late cameo from KL Rahul that pushed them past the 350-mark. England’s bowlers did manage to pull things back, restricting India to just 67 runs in the last nine overs, but the damage had already been done.
Chasing 357, England started aggressively with Salt playing his natural attacking game. But once India’s spinners took charge after the powerplay, the visitors found themselves in familiar trouble. Banton showed brief resistance, but with wickets tumbling at the other end, England’s chase never truly recovered. A disciplined Indian bowling attack, led by spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, ensured the visitors never found momentum, wrapping up the innings inside 40 overs.
With the series in the bag, India now head into the Champions Trophy in prime form. The team ticked all the right boxes—Rohit and Kohli found form, Gill reinforced his credentials in ODIs, and Iyer shrugged off concerns about his short-ball vulnerability with two fifties in three games. Axar Patel’s resurgence with the bat is a big plus, while KL Rahul remains rock-solid behind the stumps. Hardik Pandya contributed in both departments, and Jadeja led the spin attack brilliantly.
India also experimented with Varun Chakaravarthy, who showed promise, while young pacer Harshit Rana impressed despite leaking runs early, making crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs. Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep eased their way back from injuries, while Arshdeep Singh once again showcased his wicket-taking ability.
For England, the road ahead looks bumpy. While their openers provided bright starts, the middle order remains a major concern. They will be hoping Duckett’s injury is not serious, as he has been one of their most consistent batters. Bowling, too, remains an issue, with only Rashid standing out. With the Champions Trophy looming, England must regroup quickly if they are to rediscover their dominant form.
As the series wraps up, Rohit Sharma lifted the trophy, handing it over to the younger players, as India celebrated yet another emphatic triumph.
