India secured a comprehensive 3-0 clean sweep against England in their one-day international series, culminating in a decisive 142-run victory in Ahmedabad. England's batting woes continued as they were bowled out for a mere 214 in just 34.2 overs. Harshit's pace proved instrumental, sending both Jos Buttler and Harry Brook back to the pavilion, disrupting England's chase early on. England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged the pattern of the tour, indicating that their efforts fell short against a superior Indian team.
Shubman Gill shone for India, scoring a commanding 112 runs from 102 balls, while contributions from Shreyas Iyer (78) and Virat Kohli (52) solidified India's innings. At one point, India seemed poised to surpass the 400-run mark, but England's bowlers staged a late comeback, taking 6-81 in the final ten overs. Despite this effort, the Indian side had already set a formidable target.
Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel further dismantled England's batting line-up, with Kuldeep catching Tom Banton behind and Patel bowling Joe Root. For England, Saqib Mahmood and Mark Wood showed early promise but were only able to claim the wicket of India's captain, Rohit Sharma.
"The game probably followed a similar pattern to the tour. We threatened them but we were outplayed by a better team." – Jos Buttler
Adil Rashid was the standout performer for England with the ball, delivering his best figures in an ODI against India with 4-64. Rashid managed to dismiss key Indian batsmen, including Kohli and Gill, yet his efforts weren't enough to shift the game's momentum.
Rohit Sharma expressed his satisfaction with India's performance throughout the series. He acknowledged the challenges faced and praised his team's ability to overcome them successfully.
"Very pleased. When we came into the series we knew there would be challenges that we would have to face. When we were faced with them, we found a way to get over them." – Rohit Sharma
England's batting inconsistency has been a recurring theme since 2022, with a wicket falling every 29.8 balls on average. The team's reliance on high pace and part-time spin has often left them exposed, a vulnerability India exploited expertly throughout the series.
As England looks ahead, their upcoming fixture is against Australia in Lahore on February 22 for the Champions Trophy opener. This presents an opportunity for England to regroup and address their shortcomings before facing another formidable opponent.
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