Summry
Match: ENG vs IND • 3rd ODI • India tour of England, 2026
Series: India tour of England, 2026
Date: Sunday, July 19
Time: 11:00 AM LOCAL, 10:00 AM GMT, 3:30 PM IST
Toss: England won the toss and opt to Bat
Venue: Lord’s, London
Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, Martin Saggers
3rd Umpire: Sam Nogajski
Referee: Richie Richardson
| England Player | Indian Player |
Ben Duckett Jacob Bethell Joe Root Harry Brook (c) Jos Buttler (wk) Sam Curran Will Jacks Gus Atkinson Jofra Archer Adil Rashid Josh Tongue Bench Saqib Mahmood Brydon Carse Tom Banton James Coles Rehan Ahmed Liam Dawson Support Staff Brendon McCullum Paul Collingwood Marcus Trescothick Jeetan Patel David Saker | Rohit Sharma Shubman Gill (c) Virat Kohli Ishan Kishan (wk) Shreyas Iyer KL Rahul Axar Patel Gurnoor Brar Prince Yadav Arshdeep Singh Prasidh Krishna Bench Shivam Dube Jasprit Bumrah Harsh Dubey Kuldeep Yadav Support Staff Gautam Gambhir Ryan ten Doeschate T Dilip Morne Morkel Sitanshu Kotak Sairaj Bahutule |
The stage could hardly have been grander. Cricket’s most revered cathedral, the St John’s Wood arena, bore witness to a high-stakes finale as two global superpowers collided with the series deadlocked at one victory apiece.
On one side stood India, the world’s number one-ranked ODI side, seeking to exorcise the ghosts of a difficult tour. On the other, England, buoyed by Joe Root’s masterclass in Cardiff and determined to claim their first bilateral ODI series victory over India since 2018.
What unfolded over 100 overs of gripping cricket was a run-fest for the ages. England and India combined for a monumental 747 runs, the highest aggregate in an ODI at Lord’s. Records tumbled, centuries were scored, and the pendulum of momentum swung violently before England emerged victorious by 27 runs. It was a match that had everything—explosive batting, nerve-wracking twists, and a finish that left the capacity crowd breathless
England’s Batting Masterclass: Duckett and Bethell Run Riot
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, England’s openers made full use of the batting-friendly conditions at Lord’s. The decision proved inspired as Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell produced an opening partnership for the ages. Their 192-run stand was the highest by any England pair against India in ODI history.
Duckett, who had struggled against Jasprit Bumrah’s probing angles in the first two ODIs, capitalised on the pace spearhead’s absence due to a failed fitness test. The left-hander smashed 141 off 135 balls, adorned with 18 fours and a six—the highest individual score in any men’s ODI at Lord’s, surpassing Viv Richards’ legendary 138 from 1979.
Bethell, the 22-year-old sensation playing only his third match as an opener, announced his arrival on the big stage with a fluent 91 off 93 deliveries. The duo’s dominance was absolute; India’s inexperienced bowling attack, missing Bumrah and the injured Washington Sundar, struggled for line and length throughout. Gurnoor Brar endured a particularly difficult outing, returning figures of 0/97—the most expensive ODI spell ever recorded at Lord’s.
Root and Buttler’s Death-Overs Assault
If Duckett and Bethell laid the foundation, Joe Root and Jos Buttler built the skyscraper. Root continued his remarkable run of form, smashing an unbeaten 74 off just 48 balls. His reverse-sweep for four took him beyond his own record of 309 runs without being dismissed in ODIs.
But it was Buttler’s brutal onslaught that truly demoralised India. The England captain needed only 13 balls for his unbeaten 41, hammering four fours and three sixes. England plundered 82 runs in the last five overs and 126 in the final ten, finishing on a staggering 387/3—the highest ODI total ever recorded at Lord’s.
India’s Spirited Chase: Rohit’s Historic Century
Chasing a daunting 388, India’s reply got off to a perfect start. Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill stitched together a 147-run opening partnership, laying the platform for what looked like a record-breaking chase. Gill contributed a composed 77 off 84 balls before falling lbw to Adil Rashid.
But the innings belonged to Rohit Sharma. Walking in amid speculation that this could be his final ODI, the Indian opener answered his critics in spectacular fashion. His 138 off 110 balls featured 17 fours and five sixes. He brought up his 34th ODI century in just 85 deliveries, becoming the first Indian batter to score an ODI hundred at Lord’s. His 138 also stands as the highest individual ODI score by an Indian in England.
The Turning Point: Rohit’s Dismissal Triggers Collapse
India were cruising at 260/2 in the 39th over, well ahead of the required rate. Then came the moment that changed everything. England captain Harry Brook turned to part-time left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell, who delivered the breakthrough—bowling Rohit Sharma for 138. The Lord’s crowd rose to give the Indian captain a standing ovation, but his dismissal opened the floodgates.
Virat Kohli, walking out to huge cheers from the Indian fans, kept hopes alive with a brisk 74 off 60 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes. However, Sam Curran produced a decisive spell of death bowling, removing Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, and eventually Kohli himself. Curran finished with exceptional figures of 4/75.
India finished on 360/7, falling 27 runs short of their target. Despite the loss, they had pushed the world’s best to the very limit in a run-chase that will be remembered for years.
What the Captains Said
England skipper Harry Brook was understandably elated: “Extremely proud. We fought hard, we communicated well and we managed to win a series against World No. 1. The way Ben and Bethell started, it was an outstanding partnership. Rooty did Rooty things and the way Jos finished was incredible”.
India captain Shubman Gill rued the missed opportunities: “We gave too many runs in the last few overs and that’s where the game went away from us. We knew if we had wickets in hand, we’d be in the game. We didn’t bowl well in the powerplay. Both their openers capitalised”. On Rohit’s performance, Gill added: “Very happy with how Rohit batted today. The way he batted was a treat to watch”.
Records Tumble on a Historic Day at Lord’s
The third ODI at Lord’s was a day of shattered records and rewritten history books:
Record Details’
Highest ODI total at Lord’s England 387/3
Highest individual score in men’s ODI at Lord’s Ben Duckett 141
First Indian ODI century at Lord’s Rohit Sharma 138
Highest Indian ODI score in England Rohit Sharma 138
Highest England partnership vs India (any wicket) Duckett-Bethell 192
Most expensive ODI spell at Lord’s Gurnoor Brar 0/97
Most runs without dismissal in ODIs (England) Joe Root – surpassed 309
The Bumrah Factor: What Might Have Been’
The elephant in the room throughout the match was the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. In the first two ODIs, Bumrah had made Duckett look uncomfortable, bowling 20 deliveries to him and conceding just one boundary. Without India’s pace spearhead, England’s openers capitalised ruthlessly.
India fielded four fast bowlers in the third ODI—Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Prince Yadav. None could replicate Bumrah’s ability to angle the ball away from Duckett, exposing the left-hander’s weakness. The absence of Washington Sundar further compounded India’s bowling woes.
A Series to Remember
England’s 2-1 series victory marked their first bilateral ODI series win over India since 2018. Combined with their 4-0 triumph in the preceding T20I series, it completed a miserable tour for the Asian giants—one of their worst overseas campaigns in recent memory.
For England, the victory provided a massive boost to head coach Brendon McCullum, who had lost his Test job earlier in the month. The result vindicated the aggressive, fearless brand of cricket that McCullum and captain Harry Brook have instilled in this young England side.
Verdict: A Contest That Will Echo Through the Ages
This decider contained every ingredient necessary for instant cricketing folklore. The advantage swung violently from one dressing room to the other. Individual genius collided with collective resolve under London’s overcast skies. When the final wicket fell, England had held their composure on a surface where legends are measured.
For India, the silver linings are undeniable despite the series defeat. Rohit Sharma produced a career-defining masterclass that reminded everyone of his enduring class. Shubman Gill reinforced his reputation as the bedrock of India’s batting future. Virat Kohli’s fluent strokeplay hinted that his golden touch remains very much alive. However, the bowling unit lacked teeth when it mattered most. Finding a reliable support cast for Bumrah must become the top priority moving forward.
England’s camp, conversely, radiates optimism and belief. Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell look like a permanent solution to their opening puzzle. Joe Root continues to pile runs with mechanical efficiency. Jos Buttler remains peerless when the game demands brutal acceleration. Harry Brook’s captaincy, bold and instinctive, has already left an indelible mark on this young side. The future appears exceptionally bright for the hosts.
Scorecard Summary
England finished on 387/3 from their allotted 50 overs. Duckett led the charge with 141, while Bethell contributed 91. Root remained unbeaten on 74, and Buttler smashed 41 not out. Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets but leaked 69 runs. In reply, India managed 360/7, powered by Rohit’s stunning 138. Gill made 77, and Kohli added 74. Sam Curran’s incisive spell yielded 4/75, ultimately sealing a 27-run victory for the hosts.