Team India is set to face England in the third and final ODI on Wednesday in Ahmedabad, aiming for a 3-0 clean sweep ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Having already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead with two identical four-wicket victories, Rohit Sharma’s side will look to extend their dominance at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the venue where they lost the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
Kohli’s Form & Milestone Watch
While Rohit Sharma’s 119 off 90 balls in the second ODI marked a return to form, Virat Kohli’s bat has remained silent in the series. The batting talisman is just 89 runs away from becoming the third player in history to reach 14,000 ODI runs, adding extra significance to the upcoming match.
Squad Rotation & Key Players
- Mohammed Shami has impressed on his return from injury, while Varun Chakravarthy has bolstered India’s spin attack.
- Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness remains a concern, with the ace pacer currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. The final Champions Trophy squad announcement on Wednesday will determine his availability.
- KL Rahul is under pressure after a lean patch, and India might experiment with Rishabh Pant in his place.
- Axar Patel’s solid performances (52 & 41) at No. 5* have eased the load on Ravindra Jadeja, who has taken six wickets in the series.
England’s Struggles
Jos Buttler’s England has been plagued by batting collapses, negating the strong starts provided by Phil Salt and Ben Duckett. Their inability to handle India’s spin-friendly conditions could lead to further trouble in the final ODI.
With the Champions Trophy on the horizon, India will look to fine-tune their combinations while sealing a dominant 3-0 series win. Will Kohli rise to the occasion and script another record-breaking knock?
