Gill’s ton leads India to 3-0 ODI series sweep over England
India’s dominant performance in the white-ball series, following a 4-1 T20I victory, comes ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy, which begins on 19 February in Pakistan and Dubai.
Shubman Gill anchored India’s innings with a century, helping them post 356 after being sent in to bat. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA secured a 142-run victory over England in the third ODI on Wednesday, completing a 3-0 series sweep at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Shubman Gill anchored India’s innings with a century, helping them post 356 after being sent in to bat.
England started strongly in their chase, but left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh dismissed both openers, triggering a collapse. The visitors were bowled out for 214 in 34.2 overs.
India’s dominant performance in the white-ball series, following a 4-1 T20I victory, comes ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy, which begins on 19 February in Pakistan and Dubai.
"I don't see there was anything wrong we did this series," India captain Rohit Sharma said. "Obviously, there are certain things we are looking at (to improve). It is our job as well to keep some consistency within the squad, and the communication is clear."
Gill led India's batting with 112 off 102 balls, finishing the series with 259 runs in three matches. After scores of 87 and 60 in the previous games, he brought up his seventh ODI century.
Gill and Virat Kohli put on 116 runs for the second wicket, with Kohli scoring 52 before falling to leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who finished with figures of 4-64.
"I think this was one of the better knocks in ODIs for me," said Gill, who was named player of the match and series. "The pitch was a bit tricky at the start, so it's satisfying."
Shreyas Iyer added 78 off 64 balls, while KL Rahul contributed 40. Rashid was the only England bowler to make an impact, while Mark Wood dismissed Rohit Sharma for one with a sharp delivery.
Kohli's fifty
Gill, who reclaimed his spot at the top of the order from Yashasvi Jaiswal, built a steady partnership with Kohli after Rohit’s early dismissal.
Kohli’s run-a-ball fifty helped him return to form following an inconsistent Test series in Australia. He was eventually caught behind off Rashid.
Gill struck 14 fours and three sixes, adding 104 with Iyer before falling to Rashid's googly. Iyer reached his second half-century of the series before Rashid bowled him, later also dismissing Hardik Pandya after being hit for two consecutive sixes.
England’s openers made a quick start, reaching 60 in just 38 balls. Ben Duckett, who hit 34, attacked Arshdeep with four consecutive boundaries.
"Our approach (with the bat) is the right one, just that we haven't executed well," England captain Jos Buttler said. "They put a great score on the board. Shubman played a great innings."
Arshdeep responded by dismissing Duckett and Phil Salt (23) in successive overs.
Tom Banton (38) and Joe Root (24) offered brief resistance, adding 46 runs. However, Kuldeep Yadav got Banton caught behind, while Axar Patel bowled Root, sealing England’s collapse.
Brief scores: India 356 all out in 50 overs (S. Gill 112, V. Kohli 52, S. Iyer 78, KL Rahul 40; A. Rashid 4-64, M. Wood 2-45)
England 214 all out in 34.2 overs (B. Duckett 34, T. Banton 38, G. Atkinson 38; A. Singh 2-33, H. Rana 2-31, H. Pandya 2-38, A. Patel 2-22)
Rohit and Kohli, with a combined total of 567 ODIs, have both been included in the three-match series against Australia, though their future beyond the tour remains uncertain. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA head coach Gautam Gambhir declined to discuss the 2027 World Cup prospects of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, saying it was too early to look that far ahead despite acknowledging their quality.
Both players now feature internationally only in the 50-over format, but India appear to be managing a gradual transition rather than making sudden changes.
Rohit, who led India to the Champions Trophy title earlier this year, has been replaced by Shubman Gill as captain of the one-day side for the upcoming Australia tour.
Rohit and Kohli, with a combined total of 567 ODIs, have both been included in the three-match series against Australia, though their future beyond the tour remains uncertain.
"Look, the 50-over World Cup is still two-and-a-half years away, and I think it is very important to stay in the present," Gambhir told reporters after India completed a Test series sweep against West Indies on Tuesday.
"Obviously, they are quality players, they are coming back, their experience is going to be a handful in Australia as well.
"Hopefully, those two guys will have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team, we will have a successful series."
Rohit, who captained India to the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, will turn 40 by the time the next edition takes place, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Kohli, a member of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad, is a year younger.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s future in the format is also uncertain. The 37-year-old, part of the recent Champions Trophy-winning team, has been left out of the ODI squad for Australia.
Jadeja said the selectors had explained the reasons behind his omission and that he would stay prepared for future opportunities.
"It is a good thing that they communicated the reason behind my omission," Jadeja said during the second Test against West Indies.
"But whenever I get a chance next, I will try and do what I have done all these years.
"Winning a World Cup is everyone's dream. We had narrowly missed out the last time, the next time we will try and make up for it."
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