India beats England in the fifth T20I to win the series 3-2
India clinched the five-match T20I series against England with a convincing 36-run victory in the fifth and final match played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With this win, India has also secured a place in the final of the ICC World Test Championship.
The Indian team put up a strong batting performance, with opener Rohit Sharma leading the way with a brilliant 64 off 34 balls. Suryakumar Yadav, who was playing in only his second T20I match, also impressed with a quickfire 32 off just 17 balls. Captain Virat Kohli contributed 80 runs off 52 balls to help India post a mammoth total of 224/2 in their 20 overs.
England, in response, struggled to keep up with the required run rate and eventually finished on 188/8 in their 20 overs. Jos Buttler top-scored for England with 52 runs off 34 balls, but it was not enough to prevent India from winning the match and the series.
Key takeaways from the series
1. India’s batting depth: India’s batting depth was on full display in the series, with different players stepping up at different times. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya were the standout performers, but the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan also made valuable contributions.
2. England’s struggles against spin: England’s batsmen struggled against India’s spinners throughout the series. The likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel proved to be a handful for the English batsmen, who failed to score freely against them.
3. India’s fielding: India’s fielding was top-notch throughout the series, with the likes of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav taking some stunning catches. The Indian team also executed some brilliant run-outs, putting pressure on the English batsmen.
4. England’s death bowling woes: England’s death bowling was a major concern throughout the series, with their bowlers conceding too many runs in the final overs. This was particularly evident in the fourth T20I, where India scored 39 runs off the last two overs to win the match.
5. India’s fast bowling options: India’s fast bowling options were limited in the series, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami not playing. However, the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shardul Thakur stepped up and performed well, giving India some much-needed depth in their bowling.
6. England’s over-reliance on Jos Buttler: England’s batting relied heavily on Jos Buttler, who was their top-scorer in the series. However, the other English batsmen failed to step up and support him, which put pressure on Buttler and ultimately led to England’s downfall.
India’s upcoming schedule
India’s next assignment is the three-match ODI series against England, which starts on March 23. The matches will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. After the ODI series, India will host the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts on April 9. All matches of the IPL will be played in India, with no matches being played in the UAE this year.
Conclusion
India’s victory in the T20I series against England is a testament to their depth and quality in all departments of the game. With the ODI series and the IPL coming up, India will be looking to carry their momentum forward and continue their winning run. England, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their weaknesses if they are to bounce back in the upcoming matches.