India won the decider in the T20 series against England by 36 runs to clinch the 5-match series 3-2 following a very entertaining performance from both teams. The Blues were asked to bat first by the visitors, and Indian skipper Virat Kohli started off the innings alongside Rohit Sharma in a very welcome change to the normal batting order.
The two put up a solid foundation to India’s innings as they held the opening partnership for 95 runs, and both the players registered 50+ scores, with Kohli being unbeaten till the end of the innings. Rohit Sharma scored 64 while Virat Kohli managed to score 80.
India scored 225 for 2 at the end of 20 overs and contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (32) and Hardik Pandya (39), following the loss of wickets saw India register a big total on the scoreboard.
The visitors had a difficult time keeping up with the pressures involved in the final innings of the series and crumbled at 188 for 8 wickets in 20 overs to concede the series despite going up twice throughout the five-match saga.
The partnership between Jos Buttler (52) and Dawid Malan (68) gave the hosts cause for concern, but a superb bowling performance from Shardul Thakur and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, registering 3 and 2 wickets each, saw the Englishmen fall short of the mark at the end of the day despite a good start to their chase.
The celebrations will continue long into the night for the home team, who did amazingly well to secure the series despite the odds being stacked against them on the final day.
