As India and England prepare for the third and final ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium, discussions around Rohit Sharma’s century in Cuttack continue to dominate the narrative. While Sharma’s knock was a testament to his pedigree in the 50-over format, England’s struggles in the middle overs, particularly against spin, remain an area of concern ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Rohit Sharma’s Timely Return to Form
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, entered 2025 facing questions about his form, particularly in T20Is. However, his century in the second ODI not only silenced critics but also underlined his enduring prowess in the 50-over game. Ravindra Jadeja hailed the innings as “great for the team,” recognizing the importance of Sharma rediscovering form ahead of another ICC event.
Jos Buttler, England’s captain, also acknowledged Sharma’s impact, stating, “He really showed that in this day and age, in the modern sort of way of playing 50-over cricket, it’s very dynamic, very aggressive. He scored at a rate that just confirms really that the way we want to play is the right way… the correct way to play cricket.”
England’s Struggles in the Middle Overs
Despite England’s aggressive starts in the first two ODIs, their performance in the crucial middle overs (11-40) has been underwhelming. India’s spinners, led by Jadeja and Axar Patel, have managed to stifle the run flow effectively. In Nagpur, England could only manage 129/4 in the middle phase, while in Cuttack, the figure improved slightly to 155/4. However, these numbers remain insufficient, especially on surfaces that get better for batting in the latter half of the innings.
England’s top order, featuring Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root, has provided brisk starts, but the inability to rotate strike against spin has left them vulnerable. Their scoring rate against spin in Cuttack was a modest 4.65, something they will need to improve in Ahmedabad if they are to challenge India’s well-rounded bowling attack.
India’s Stability Heading into the Decider
India appears to be a more settled unit compared to England. Virat Kohli, who has played supporting roles in the series so far, will be keen to emulate Sharma and produce a big score. The presence of all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja ensures balance in both batting and bowling departments.
One question mark remains over the availability of Jasprit Bumrah. While the team management was optimistic about his return for the final ODI, no official confirmation has been given. If Bumrah remains unavailable, Arshdeep Singh is likely to retain his place in the XI.
Rishabh Pant, who has been on the sidelines so far, could also be given an opportunity in the final ODI as India looks to finalize its combinations before the Champions Trophy.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul/Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Varun CV, Mohammed Shami.
England’s Potential Changes
England may look to tweak their XI to address their middle-over struggles. The return of Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer could provide additional firepower with the ball, while Tom Banton, who has been in stellar form in white-ball cricket, might be drafted in to strengthen the batting. Banton’s aggressive approach could help counter India’s spin threat.
England’s bowling attack, led by Adil Rashid and Mark Wood, will need to adapt to the conditions in Ahmedabad. Rashid’s role will be particularly crucial, given that spinners have extracted significant turn at this venue in the first innings.
Probable XI: Philip Salt (w), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Tom Banton/Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson/Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood/Jofra Archer.
Ahmedabad’s Challenging Conditions
The Narendra Modi Stadium has historically been a challenging venue for batters, with an average first-innings score of 240 in this series. The large square boundaries will test batsmen looking to clear the ropes, while dew is expected to play a role in the latter half of the game.
In the 2023 World Cup, spinners dominated in the first innings at this venue, while seamers found more assistance under lights. This pattern could influence the captains’ decision at the toss, with both teams likely to prefer chasing.
Statistical Highlights
- Arshdeep Singh is India’s leading wicket-taker in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, with 12 wickets in five matches.
- Liam Livingstone has been England’s best finisher in ODIs in 2024, boasting a strike rate of 190.16 in the death overs (41-50).
- Rohit Sharma enjoys playing in Ahmedabad, averaging 50.57 at the venue, with 354 runs in seven innings.
- Joe Root now holds the record for the most 50-plus scores in ODIs for England (56), surpassing Eoin Morgan.
What They Said
Ravindra Jadeja on Rohit Sharma’s Century: “Sometimes, it just takes one or two innings to turn things around. The good thing is that before an important tournament like the Champions Trophy, scoring a hundred is a huge boost. It’s great for the team.”
Jos Buttler on England’s Batting Performance: “There are some positives there, we’re making steps in the right direction but not the perfect complete performance with the bat [in Cuttack]. The cycle of the team, there’s a few players who are just gaining experience, and days like this are great lessons, which is what you want – you want to accelerate that learning and keep pushing the guys in the right direction.”
The Road Ahead
With the series locked at 1-1, the final ODI in Ahmedabad will serve as a crucial test for both sides. For India, another strong performance will reinforce their status as one of the favorites for the Champions Trophy, while England will be keen to address their middle-over woes and head into the ICC event with confidence.
A competitive contest awaits, with Sharma’s brilliance, England’s aggressive intent, and the tactical battle between spin and pace set to define the series decider.
