Dominant batting performance in India results in a huge team score of 356 in final ODI.

India &'s overall batmanship contributed to them making a very high score of 356 in the final ODI of the series against England in Ahmedabad. The standout performance came from Shubman Gill, who continued his exceptional form by scoring his seventh ODI century. His innings was complemented by vital contributions from Shreyas Iyer, who scored 78, and Virat Kohli, who chipped in with a well-paced half-century. Despite some brilliant bowling spells from Adil Rashid and Mark Wood, the rest of the England bowlers struggled to control the run rate, allowing India to breach the 350-run mark comfortably.

In this match, India had the opportunity to bat first, a scenario which was different from the previous encounters in the series. Nevertheless, it began badly for India when Rohit Sharma, the previous match centurion in Cuttack, was out cheaply. Just two overs into the innings, Mark Wood struck with a sharp delivery that caught the edge of Rohit’s bat, sending him back to the pavilion. Under the rising early pressure, Kohli displayed a positive reaction and after watched a lovely cover drive from Wood. His confidence grew further when he dispatched Saqib Mahmood for two consecutive boundaries.

At the other end, Shubman Gill continued to impress, maintaining his consistency throughout the series. He soon got into the groove, playing a sequence of pleasing raps including a couple of boundaries off Gus Atkinson to close the first powerplay on a high point. In an unexpected move, England handed the ball to Joe Root early, but Kohli quickly capitalized on the opportunity, hitting Root for four boundaries in just two overs. Gill proceeded to atkinson and hit the ball for a six and a four, which made England recalibrate. The Indian combination became more assured on the platform and with every six, which both put down off Livingstone's bowling, it became manifest that the visitors were in retreat.

Kohli's half-century arrived at the turning point of the match, and their stand went to 104. But just as India seemed on the verge of speeding up, Adil Rashid intervened. The ex-veteran leg-spinner was able to separate the pair, taking out Kohli with an edge and holding out safely by the keeper - it was the end of a promising innings of 52.

The dismissal of Kohli didn’t affect the momentum, as Shubman Gill continued to dominate the bowling. Not long after, he achieved the century that was his seventh in ODIs and again showed that he is one of India’s most gifted batsmen. Gill's innings was a combination of grace and punch, with cleansweep off-the-pitch boundaries and an impressive six. However, in an attempt to increase the scoring rate, he was dismissed shortly after his century, falling to Rashid’s deceptive spin.

After Gill left, Shreyas Iyer assumed the captaincy and continued the aggressive style of play. Iyer, who has been in classic form across the course of the series, showed his attacking nature, hitting the ropes with comfort. He flew to a rapid 40 off just 30 balls, maintaining pressure on England. But as has been the case with several Indian batsmen, Iyer’s innings came to a halt when Rashid dismissed him at a crucial stage, leaving India at 275/4 after 40 overs.

At this point, India still had a formidable batting lineup, with KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya at the crease, supported by the likes of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar to follow. Hardik’s aggressive hitting lifted India’s total when he dispatched Rashid for back-to-back sixes. However, Rashid, through his experience, set a timely intervention in dismissing Hardik, which led to a slight respite for an English bowling attack.

Axar Patel, too, began promisingly, taking a couple of boundaries at the outset. But he tripped when trying to hit a ball which he lofted to the opposite direction of Joe Root, who lost the opportunity to make a decisive partnership. This duty fallen on the shoulders of Rahul, to hold the innings and start some much needed steam. So did Rahul with style, scoring a brilliant hit on Root over his head and on Mahmood's ball taking the boundary. However, Mahmood's accuracy in his yorkers, in the end, resulted in the dismissal of Rahul that gave England a valuable wicket.

As the innings neared its conclusion, England tightened their grip, conceding just 22 runs in the final three overs. However, 356  a tremendously high final score  had already been posted by India and will be difficult, if not near impossible, for England to score. Inclusive of Rashid's four-wicket haul and Wood’s two wickets, although they were able to display discipline, the collective ineffectiveness of the other members of the bowling attack rendered India the masters of the game. And now, with the Indian total complete, England will need to produce their highest batting total of the season in order to have a chance of claiming victory.

Final Scores: Final Scores-

India: 356/6 in 50 overs

Shubman Gill 112, Shreyas Iyer 78

Adil Rashid 4/64, Mark Wood 2/45