IND vs ENG: 3rd ODI Preview – India aim 3-0 as England try to avoid a whitewash
The third and final ODI between India and England is set to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 12. After winning the first two games of the series, the hosts have already taken the lead, with the upcoming fixture being a dead rubber.
In the first ODI in Nagpur, England opted to bat first after winning the toss and got off to a good start. Debutant Harshit Rana had an expensive opening spell but bounced back to claim three wickets. Ravindra Jadeja then removed Joe Root, who managed just 19 in what was his first ODI since November 2023. England skipper Jos Buttler led the way with a well-made fifty, while young Jacob Bethell smashed his second ODI half-century. However, the tourists collapsed towards the end, as they were bundled out for 248 in 47.4 overs.
India’s chase had an early struggle as Jofra Archer removed debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal for 15 and Rohit Sharma fell soon after. However, Shreyas Iyer’s fiery 30-ball fifty was supported by Axar Patel (52) and Shubman Gill (87). Gill top-scored with 87, and Jadeja’s late cameo sealed a comfortable four-wicket win for India with 68 balls to spare.
The second ODI at Barabati Stadium followed a similar pattern as the Three Lions, batting first again, played brilliantly through the powerplay, with Ben Duckett scoring 48. However, the middle overs saw a collapse as Jadeja’s spell (3/38) hurt the Jos Buttler-led side. England managed 304 before being bowled out.
India came back with a solid reply, as skipper Rohit Sharma, after a lean patch, led from the front with a 119 off 76 balls, his 32nd ODI ton. Rohit and Gill put up a 136-run opening stand to make things easier. Despite some late wickets, the Men in Blue cruised to victory with four wickets in hand and 33 balls remaining.
Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium has historically favoured spinners with its slow pitch. However, in recent times, especially during the IPL, the track has become quicker, leading to high-scoring games. While spinners still find some help, batters have enjoyed good conditions for hitting their shots. With powerful hitters in both teams, another run-fest could be on the cards. As for the weather in Ahmedabad on February 12, AccuWeather predicts clear skies with no chance of rain. The temperature will range between 15°C and 31°C, with 38% humidity and winds blowing at 13 km/h
Probable Playing XI
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy
England: Philip Salt(w), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler(c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood Ahmed
