Rohit Sharma produced a knock for the ages, but it was not enough. Despite the veteran opener's brilliant history-making hundred at Lord's, India fell 27 runs short in the third and final ODI on Sunday, July 19, as England won the decider to seal the series 2-1.
Chasing a huge 388, India put up a real fight and reached 360 for 7, but England's big first-innings total — built around a superb Ben Duckett century — proved just too much. It means a tour that started with a T20I whitewash ends with an ODI series defeat too, though India will take heart from the way their batting fired in the decider.
Duckett leads England to 387
England won the toss and chose to bat, and they made the most of a good Lord's pitch. Opener Ben Duckett was the star, smashing 141 off 135 balls with 18 fours, and he shared a massive 192-run opening stand with Jacob Bethell, who fell agonisingly short of a hundred on 91.
From there, England never let go. Joe Root — later named Player of the Series — provided the finishing touch with a rapid 74 not out off 48 balls, and Jos Buttler blasted an unbeaten 41 off just 13 at the death, including three sixes, to power England to a towering 387 for 3.
Prasidh Krishna was the pick of India's bowlers with 2 for 69, but it was a tough day in the field overall, with England scoring 126 runs in the last 10 overs alone.
Rohit and Kohli give India hope
Chasing 388 was always going to be a huge task, but India came out firing. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill raced along in the powerplay, and after Gill fell for a brisk fifty, Rohit took centre stage.
The 39-year-old rolled back the years with a magnificent century — his 34th in ODIs — clearing the ropes five times and becoming the first Indian to score an ODI hundred at Lord's. Virat Kohli backed him up with a classy fifty, and at one stage, with India past 250, an incredible chase looked possible.
But the required rate kept climbing, and once the big wickets fell, the innings lost steam. India managed 93 for 5 in the last 10 overs — not quite enough — and finished on 360 for 7. Sam Curran did the key damage for England with 4 for 75.
What it means
For England, this is a hugely satisfying series win to go with their T20I sweep, capping a dominant white-ball summer against India. Ben Duckett's century sealed the decider, while Joe Root's consistency across the series earned him the Player of the Series award.
For India, there are clear positives to take despite the 2-1 defeat. The batting finally clicked in the decider, Rohit answered his critics in the grandest style, and Kohli looked in fine touch. But the bowling was punished on flat pitches through the series, and that will be a worry going forward.
The tour ends here, but the biggest talking point may not be the scoreline at all — it is whether Rohit's Lord's masterpiece was the perfect farewell, or the innings that keeps his India career alive.
ENG vs IND 3rd ODI Result
England: 387/3 in 50 overs (Ben Duckett 141, Jacob Bethell 91, Joe Root 74*; Prasidh Krishna 2-69)
India: 360/7 in 50 overs (Rohit Sharma 100+, Virat Kohli 50+; Sam Curran 4-75)
Result: England won by 27 runs; win the ODI series 2-1
Player of the Match: Jacob Bethell
Player of the Series: Joe Root
England were the better side across the white-ball leg, but Rohit Sharma made sure India's tour ended on a note of history.
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