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The numbers are ugly as the Champions Trophy approaches. England’s defeat in this final clash with India was their 16th in 23 one-day internationals since the start of the 2023 World Cup. The one-time world-beaters have lost their winning habit, their latest offering a 142-run defeat, Rohit Sharma’s team easing to a 3-0 series victory.
A chase of 357 could not be ruled out in Ahmedabad when England found themselves 126 for two inside 18 overs, Joe Root building, Tom Banton beginning to bash. But an Indian attack built on variety instigated the collapse, the wickets shared around, Banton and Gus Atkinson joint top scorers with 38.
Shubman Gill had strummed away earlier, his 112 backed up by half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Adil Rashid took four for 64, his twirl one of the few things England have enjoyed on this tour. They finish it with seven defeats and just one victory.
The day began with a change in approach, Jos Buttler choosing to field after consecutive four-wicket losses. What early damage would Rohit Sharma inflict? The India captain had struck an electric 76-ball ton on Sunday evening but could only add a solitary run, Mark Wood’s outswinger finding the edge, Phil Salt gobbling up behind.
Wood was impressive with the new ball, movement to go with his usual pace, but Gill and Kohli calmly constructed a 116-run stand. Gill had been building towards a bigger score after half-centuries in the previous two matches, and he was immaculate while charging down a familiar pitch; this is the ground he calls home in the Indian Premier League for Gujarat Titans. Kohli got to fifty at a run a ball, form rediscovered in his most dominant format.
But Rashid has caused Kohli some grief over the years and did so once again. Drift brought the danger, turn the edge of the bat, Kohli’s knock over for 52. Rashid bowled beautifully but wickets were hard to find from the other end as Gill advanced to his seventh ODI century in his 50th innings, while Iyer was pretty much faultless. Atkinson was expensive once again, going at more than nine an over, his rhythm absent throughout this tour.
Rashid would end Gill’s knock with a googly and Iyer’s on 78 with one of his poorer deliveries, the right-hander flicking down the leg side to Salt. Hardik Pandya wanted to damage Rashid’s figures, launching two off-side sixes, but the spinner’s perfect retort was a tossed-up leg-break that invited the forward prod and took the stumps. Buttler is correct when he says Rashid is England’s most important player. India would still muscle their way past 350, with Wood – economical to go with two wickets – oddly left with one over to spare.
The concern for England heading into their reply was the state of Ben Duckett, who had been struggling with his left leg in the field. He still emerged as an opener with Salt, intent on a thrash even if movement was minimal. A 22-ball 34 from the left-hander included a remarkable eight boundaries, though the damage to his body is still unclear.
Salt and Duckett celebrated a third consecutive fifty stand together – this one inside six overs – but it’s the going gargantuan that hasn’t happened. Arshdeep Singh’s trickery prompted miscues from the pair, a knuckleball for Duckett, a slower-ball bouncer for Salt on 23.
Out strode Banton, under lights in the coliseum, playing his first international in three years, his first List-A game since August 2020, Root pushed down to No 4. Banton was quick to play a reverse slap off Washington Sundar for six, a reminder of the gifts that had the Somerset man capped at the age of 20. He found fortune with a tough drop behind the stumps moments later and a missed run out on 24, but the bravado remained. Axar Patel fell victim to another reversing six.
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But a tumble of wickets killed the game before the second half of the innings. Kuldeep Yadav’s googly took a faint edge off Banton’s bat before Patel yorked Root with his round-arm chaos. Buttler never settled, dragging a Harshit Rana delivery on to his stumps, England falling to 154 for five inside the 25th over.
Harry Brook got started with 19 but also fell to Rana and Liam Livingstone tried to pummel away against a climbing required run rate, the extra force exerted only making him slower. He finished with a 23-ball nine. England were all out for 214 after some hefty blows from Atkinson.
England just could not string together time in pairs, an 81-run partnership between Salt and Duckett in the second ODI their highest across eight matches on the tour. India managed eight more productive stands. It has not been much of a contest.
