India will face off against England today in the third and final One Day International (ODI) match of the series. The encounter is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, commencing at 1:30 PM IST.
Having already secured victories in the first two ODIs, the Indian team, led by captain Rohit Sharma, aims to complete a clean sweep of the series. This would mark another strong performance for India, who is eager to maintain consistency and momentum leading up to the Champions Trophy.
For England, captained by Jos Buttler, this match presents the last opportunity to gain some pride after losing both previous encounters. The team will be aiming to avoid going through the series without any wins, which would follow their disappointing 4-1 defeat against India in the T20 series earlier.
The Indian squad performed admirably in the first two ODIs, showcasing their prowess with both bat and ball. Rohit Sharma found his form, scoring significantly, before a minor injury issue sidelined star player Virat Kohli from the lineup. Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have also demonstrated their ability with solid contributions, bolstering India's batting order.
On the bowling front, India has been impressive with the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy stepping up to challenge the English batsmen effectively. Mohammed Shami, initially part of the squad, will not be playing today due to injury, with Harshith Rana filling the gap.
Meanwhile, England's performances have been marred by inconsistency, with disappointment lurking after their earlier T20 series defeat. Players like Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, and captain Jos Buttler need to step up to secure at least one win and avoid the whitewash.
Today's match also holds additional significance as both teams are preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy set for 2025. This makes the outcome of this game pivotal not just for the series, but also for future competitions.
Historically, out of 109 ODIs played between India and England, India has won 60, with England claiming victory 44 times, and the rest resulting in no result or ties. This intensely contested rivalry adds to the excitement for today’s clash.
With the atmosphere expected to be electric at the Narendra Modi Stadium, local fans will be hoping for another display of excellence from the Indian squad as they strive for complete dominance over England.
For those interested, the match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and can be streamed via Disney+ Hotstar.