IND vs ENG: Top five performers from the thrilling ODI series

After a 66-run victory courtesy of an inspirational bowling effort in the series-opener, India went on to lose the second encounter as England romped to a convincing six-wicket win through an incredible batting assault. Down to a series-decider, India clinched a nerve-sapping game by 7 runs to claim the series 2-1. Let’s take a look at the top performers from the three-match series –

5. Ben Stokes (England)

The star all-rounder from England missed out on one of the fastest centuries by an England batter in ODIs in the second game, where his insane hitting took him to 99 from merely 52 deliveries while he was 50 from 40 at one stage. It was his 175-run partnership with Bairstow that took England to a 6-wicket victory. To add to his 135 runs from three games, Stokes bagged 4 wickets at an economy rate of 6.05 in the series.

4. Shardul Thakur (India)

? On the mic with @BhuviOfficial & @imShard ?

The two chat up about their bowling performance in the final ODI versus England, #TeamIndia‘s ODI series win, @imVkohli‘s stunning catch & more. ?? – By @RajalArora #INDvENG @Paytm

Full interview ? ?https://t.co/TRAT2xqBHO pic.twitter.com/48vzqjante

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 29, 2021

It was Shardul Thakur’s back-to-back strikes in the first ODI that turned the game in India’s favor while England was cruising towards a win at one stage. He went wicket-less in the second game but came back with a four-for apart from hitting a quick-fire 30 from 21 lower in the order in the final ODI. Thakur finished the series as the leading wicket-taker (7 wickets at an economy rate of 6.26 in three games.)

3. Rishabh Pant (India)

Rishabh Pant carried his sensational form from the Tests into the ODIs as well and amassed 155 from 2 innings at a strike rate of 151.96. Not a part of the eleven initially, Pant was included due to a shoulder injury to Shreyas Iyer, and the southpaw responded with two consecutive half-centuries (77 and 78). He slammed 11 sixes in the series, only behind Bairstow’s 14.

2. Shikhar Dhawan (India)

Shikhar Dhawan entered into the series under tremendous pressure to perform and the 35-year-old did not miss out as he notched up a free-flowing knock in the first game, where he got 98 from just 106 deliveries with 11 fours and a couple of sixes. He could manage only 4 runs in the second game, although he came back with a brilliant effort (67 from 56) in the third ODI to finish the series with 169 runs at an impressive average of 56.33.

1. Jonny Bairstow (England)

Jonny Bairstow missed a deserving century in the first ODI by only six runs, however, in the second ODI, he bagged the Man of the Match for his 112-ball 124, which proved extremely crucial in England’s chase of 337. He fell cheaply in the decider but finished with most runs (219 at an average of 73) and most sixes (14) in the series.