England produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat India by 27 runs in the third and final ODI at Lord’s, sealing the three-match series 2-1 in the India Tour of England 2026. A record-breaking batting display, led by Ben Duckett and Joe Root, proved too much for India despite a valiant century from Rohit Sharma and a fighting knock from Virat Kohli.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, England’s top order delivered one of the finest ODI performances seen at the Home of Cricket. Ben Duckett was the star of the innings, smashing a career-best 141, while Joe Root continued his sensational form with an unbeaten 74. Jacob Bethell added an explosive 91, and Jos Buttler’s late cameo of 41 off just 13 deliveries propelled England to a mammoth 387/3 in 50 overs.
The total became England’s highest-ever ODI score at Lord’s, eclipsing a 51-year-old record and putting India under immense scoreboard pressure. England’s aggressive approach in the final ten overs ensured they crossed the 380-run mark, leaving the visitors with a daunting chase.
India responded positively, with Rohit Sharma leading from the front. The experienced opener produced a magnificent 138, combining fluency with controlled aggression. He found solid support from Shubman Gill and later Virat Kohli, who contributed a composed 74 to keep India firmly in the contest.
For much of the chase, India looked capable of pulling off one of their greatest ODI run chases. However, the required run rate continued to climb, forcing the batters to take greater risks.
The turning point arrived when Sam Curran struck in quick succession, dismissing Virat Kohli and KL Rahul to halt India’s momentum. England tightened the screws with disciplined bowling during the death overs, preventing India from maintaining the required scoring rate.
Despite late resistance from the lower order, India eventually finished on 360/7, falling 27 runs short of the target. Curran finished with four wickets and played a decisive role in England’s series-clinching victory.
Joe Root capped off a remarkable ODI series by remaining unbeaten once again. Across the three-match contest, the former England captain accumulated 249 runs without being dismissed, becoming the first England batter to register six consecutive ODI half-centuries and setting a new benchmark for consistency in bilateral ODI cricket.
England
- Ben Duckett – 141
- Jacob Bethell – 91
- Joe Root – 74*
- Jos Buttler – 41* (13 balls)
- Sam Curran – 4 wickets
India
- Rohit Sharma – 138
- Virat Kohli – 74
- Match: England vs India, 3rd ODI
- Venue: Lord’s, London
- Result: England won by 27 runs
- Series Result: England won the three-match ODI series 2-1
England bounced back impressively after trailing in the series, producing dominant batting performances in the final two matches to claim the ODI series. Ben Duckett’s career-best innings, Joe Root’s extraordinary consistency, and Sam Curran’s match-winning spell highlighted England’s depth in both batting and bowling.
For India, Rohit Sharma’s outstanding century and Virat Kohli’s fighting knock were major positives, but the inability to capitalize on strong partnerships and a middle-order collapse at a crucial stage ultimately proved costly. The visitors will now look to address those shortcomings as they prepare for their next international assignment.
