India faced England at the Narendra Modi Stadium on February 12, 2025, seeking to complete a clean sweep of their ODI series. With India having already secured victories in the first two matches of the series, the final game served as both a chance to finish strong and as preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
England won the toss and opted to field first, aiming to get accustomed to chasing totals—a strategy highlighted by their captain Jos Buttler. He noted, "It’s important to gain experience chasing runs on this pitch,” recalling past encounters where chasing had proven beneficial. Buttler's decision to bowl was influenced by the potential for spin as the match progressed, fitting with England's strategy of bolstering their skills for the forthcoming World Cup-like scenarios.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, expressed his intention to score runs after two matches of bowling first. "We’ve come here for one thing and that's to win the Champions Trophy," remarked England opener Ben Duckett, emphasizing the significance of this series for their morale leading up to the tournament. Duckett reassured fans, stating, "Even if we lose this series, it won’t affect our confidence for the Champions Trophy.”
The match commenced with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as India’s opening pair. They faced tight bowling from England's opening attack, with Rohit falling early to Mark Wood, who delivered a stunning delivery to claim his wicket for just one run. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli then took to the crease, working together to stabilize India's innings, as spectators anticipated if Gill could make history by becoming the fastest player to reach 2,500 ODI runs.
India made several changes to their lineup for this match; they rested key players Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami, along with Varun Chakaravarthy, who was absent due to injury. Their replacements included Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh, with management eyes on player performance heading to the Champions Trophy start date.
Through the early overs, it was evident the pitch conditions were playing to the bowlers' favor. India managed to put up some boundaries, but the pressure remained as England aimed to limit the runs scored. Amidst optimistic strikes from Gill and Kohli, the match's atmosphere oscillated between excitement and tension.
With history on the line, India looked to capitalize on its home advantage, especially following their previous defeat to Australia at the same stadium during the World Cup finals. What was once deemed merely preparation was now steeped with meaning, driving both teams to perform beyond expectations.
Cash strapped after consecutive match wins, India hoped to optimize the momentum. The match fit well within the historical backdrop of ODI encounters between the two teams, where India has faced England 109 times, winning 60 of those contests. Both sides are drawing perceptions, and with India being dominant so far, expectations were soaring.
Crucially, Kohli was seeking to add to his ODI tally, needing merely 89 runs to become the third player ever to reach the significant landmark of 14,000 ODI runs, following legends Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. The anticipation of Kohli delivering another masterclass only added to the crowd's electric energy at the stadium.
Both fans and the Indian team were hopeful as the game progressed, bringing back memories of their last series correlatives. The pressure was palpable, with Sharma’s return-to-form century from the previous game still fresh, raising spirits heading to this soundly contested final match. Observably, every run was seen as pivotal cooking up excitement for what it would later translate to as each team geared up for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Whether India would end the series on cloud nine, showcasing their batting prowess combined with bowlers’ tenacity, or England would salvage pride with perhaps their first victory against India on their turf for the season, this match not only set the tone for upcoming contests but also unfolded new chapters for both sides as they vie for dominance on the cricketing stage.
At the conclusion of the series, with the Champions Trophy freshly waiting, India was determined to polish its strategies and confront any flaws before delving deep. The focus remained steady on performance as each player represented more than just their statistics—a manifestation of hope within the Indian cricketing dream.