India Vs England 3rd ODI: Rohit Sharma’s Team Aims For Clean Sweep As England Play For Pride In Ahmedabad
Yogesh Kumar
The Rohit Sharma-led Team India is facing England in the 3rd and final ODI of the series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India has already secured the 3-match series, which is being seen as a preparatory ground for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, to be hosted by Pakistan. All of India’s fixtures will be played in Dubai.
India’s key pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, has been ruled out of the match due to injury, making way for all-rounder Harshit Rana. Varun Chakravarthy has also been included in the playing XI, replacing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Reflecting on the ODI series so far, India won the first match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur by 4 wickets. After England won the toss and posted a total of 248 runs, India comfortably chased down the target (251/6) in 38.4 overs. Shubman Gill was named Player of the Match for his outstanding knock of 87 off 96 balls.
In the second ODI, India triumphed once again, this time by 4 wickets. England, after winning the toss and opting to bat, posted a competitive total of 304. India chased down the target in 44.3 overs, with captain Rohit Sharma returning to form, scoring a brilliant 119 off 90 balls. This was a much-needed innings for Rohit, who had been struggling with form recently. However, Virat Kohli, who missed the first match due to injury, had a disappointing performance. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer made a strong comeback in the middle order, scoring 59 (36) and 44 (47) in the first two matches.
Even though this final match is a dead rubber for India, they will be aiming for a clean sweep. England, on the other hand, will be playing for pride, trying to salvage some dignity by reducing the series deficit. India has made three changes for this inconsequential match, resting Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammad Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja. In their place, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar have been given an opportunity.
For the third consecutive time in this series, England won the toss, and this time, captain Jos Buttler opted to field first.
India’s Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.
England’s Playing XI: Philip Salt (wicketkeeper), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Banton, Liam Livingstone, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood.
