England won by 27 runs against India in the third ODI of the India tour of England 2026, sealing the series 2-1 after a high-scoring finale. Ben Duckett’s superb 141 set up England’s imposing 387/3, while Player of the Match Jacob Bethell backed it up with 91 and a wicket in a match where Rohit Sharma’s 138 kept India alive deep into the chase.
This was the eighth and final match of the tour, and it completed a strong turnaround by England after India had taken the opening ODI. England had already dominated the T20 leg, winning four of the five matches after the opener was washed out, and they carried that momentum into the 50-over contests. India struck first in the ODI series with a six-wicket win in Match 6, but England responded with a four-wicket success in Match 7 before closing out the decider here by 27 runs.
England pile up 387/3
Asked to chase a huge target, India were always going to look back at England’s commanding first innings as the decisive phase of the match. England’s 387/3 from 50 overs was built around Ben Duckett’s 141, with Jacob Bethell making 91 and Joe Root adding 74 in a top-order display that rarely let India settle.
Duckett was the innings’ driving force, setting the pace and ensuring England kept the scoreboard moving through the middle overs as well as the powerplay. Bethell’s 91 was every bit as important in maintaining pressure, while Root’s 74 gave the innings shape and control. Between them, England’s top order turned a good platform into a total that demanded something extraordinary in reply.
India’s wicket-takers were limited. Prasidh Krishna finished with 2 wickets, while Prince Yadav picked up 1. Once England’s top three got set, breakthroughs were hard to come by, and that left India with too much to do at the death.
Rohit leads the chase, but England hold on
India’s reply of 360/7 in 50 overs underlined just how fierce the contest became. Rohit Sharma nearly pulled off a stunning chase with 138, and he had strong support from Shubman Gill’s 77 and Virat Kohli’s 74. For long stretches, India’s pursuit remained alive because their senior batters matched England’s tempo.
Rohit’s innings gave India belief that even 388 was within range. Gill’s 77 ensured the chase never lost structure, and Kohli’s 74 kept the asking rate manageable deep into the innings. But England found the wickets they needed at critical moments, preventing India from turning a fast chase into a famous one.
Sam Curran produced the key spell with 4 wickets, the standout bowling effort of the match for England. Bethell added a wicket to cap an excellent all-round outing, while Jofra Archer also struck once. Archer’s figures of 0/18 from 4 overs and Gus Atkinson’s 0/11 from 3 overs reflected a disciplined start, even if the wickets came elsewhere, and Josh Tongue’s brief 0.2-over spell went for 8 as India continued to press.
Match-turning moments
The contest ultimately swung on England’s ability to turn a strong batting day into a near-390 total. Duckett’s 141 gave them the base, but Bethell’s 91 ensured there was no slowdown, and Root’s 74 added another layer of security. That collective top-order effort meant India needed sustained acceleration for almost the entire chase.
India did threaten. Rohit’s 138 was the kind of innings that can break a chase wide open, and with Gill and Kohli both making substantial scores, the visitors stayed in touch for far longer than England would have liked. But Curran’s four wickets interrupted the chase at the right times, and each dismissal pushed the required rate just a little further out of reach.
What it means for the series
England’s win gives them the ODI series 2-1. After losing the first one-day international, they recovered impressively to win the next two and close the tour on a high. There are no matches left in the series, making this result the one that decides the ODI leg outright.
Key performers
- Ben Duckett (England): 141 runs
- Jacob Bethell (England): 91 runs and 1 wicket; Player of the Match
- Joe Root (England): 74 runs
- Rohit Sharma (India): 138 runs
- Shubman Gill (India): 77 runs
- Virat Kohli (India): 74 runs
- Sam Curran (England): 4 wickets
- Prasidh Krishna (India): 2 wickets
NerdSports Stat: England’s top three of Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell and Joe Root combined for 306 runs, and India still replied with 360/7 — yet the margin was still 27 runs, underlining just how relentlessly this ODI was scored.
Frequently Asked Questions
England won the match by 27 runs.
Jacob Bethell was named Player of the Match for his 91 runs and 1 wicket.
England lead the ODI series 2-1 after winning the final match of the India tour of England 2026.
Ben Duckett top-scored with 141 off balls not listed on the provided scorecard.
There is no next match; this was Match 8 of 8 and the final fixture of the tour.
