“Not Going to Stand Here and Explain…”: Rohit Sharma Reflects on India’s Clean Sweep Against England, Points Out Areas for Improvement
India asserted complete dominance over England with a 3-0 series whitewash, sealing the final ODI at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on February 12 with a commanding 142-run victory. The hosts continued their impressive form, registering a mammoth 356/7 before bundling England out for just 214 runs in 34.2 overs.
Shubman Gill was the standout performer, smashing a sensational century (110 off 95 balls), while the Indian bowlers delivered a clinical performance to dismantle England’s chase. With this win, India gained crucial momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, further establishing their dominance in white-ball cricket.
Despite the commanding victory, captain Rohit Sharma believes there are still areas for improvement as India prepares for bigger challenges. However, he refrained from revealing specifics, leaving fans and analysts speculating on what India needs to fine-tune.
India’s Dominant Display in the Series Finale
Batting first, India once again put up a power-packed performance, with several key contributions shaping their 356-run total:
- Shubman Gill (112 off 102 balls) – A masterful knock, his seventh ODI century
- Shreyas Iyer (78 off 64 balls) – A fluent innings filled with delightful strokes
- Virat Kohli (52 off 55 balls) – Played the anchor role to build the foundation
- KL Rahul (40 off 29 balls) – A finishing flourish to propel India past 350
England’s bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batting lineup, failing to create breakthroughs at crucial junctures.
In response, England’s chase never gained momentum. Despite a steady start at 60/1, they suffered a middle-order collapse, losing wickets at regular intervals. The visitors crumbled to 175/8 before being bowled out for 214 runs.
India’s bowlers executed their plans perfectly, maintaining tight lines and effective variations to break England’s partnerships.
Bowling Stars of the Match:
- Arshdeep Singh – 2 wickets
- Harshit Rana – 2 wickets
- Hardik Pandya – 2 wickets
- Axar Patel – 2 wickets
- Kuldeep Yadav & Washington Sundar – 1 wicket each
With this emphatic win, India completed the 3-0 clean sweep, handing England yet another disappointing white-ball series loss. England managed just one victory in eight white-ball games on this tour, signaling deep concerns for their ODI setup.
Rohit Sharma Reflects on the Series, Stresses the Need for Improvement
Speaking after the match, Rohit Sharma expressed delight over the team’s performance but emphasized that there were still aspects that needed work. However, he chose not to disclose those specific areas.
“Very, very pleasing (with the way the series went). We knew there would be challenges. I mean, there is nothing I could have done about that (the ball that got me out today). Credit to the bowler. The bowler is there to get you out, and you are there as a batter to challenge that. Just nicked the ball, second ball I was facing, and couldn’t have done anything about it. I don’t see anything wrong with what we did this series. But obviously, there are certain things we are looking at (to improve), and I’m not going to stand here and explain those.”
While Rohit remained tight-lipped about specific areas of improvement, his comments hint at potential concerns related to:
- Batting depth and middle-order consistency
- Bowling combinations in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah
- Team balance heading into the Champions Trophy 2025
He further emphasized the importance of freedom in playing style, highlighting India’s new fearless approach in white-ball cricket.
“It is our job to maintain consistency within the squad, and the communication is clear. Any champion team wants to get better with every game and move forward. There is a bit of freedom in the squad to play the way you want. The World Cup was a perfect example of that, and we want to continue playing that way. There will be times when things won’t fall in place, but that’s okay.”
Shubman Gill – The Backbone of India’s Batting
Among all the standout performances, Shubman Gill emerged as the most reliable batter in the series, scoring consistently in all three games.
🏏 Gill’s scores in the series:
✅ 87 in the first ODI
✅ 60 in the second ODI
✅ 112 in the final ODI
The Indian vice-captain demonstrated his ability to anchor the innings while accelerating when needed, making him a key player for India’s white-ball future.
His seventh ODI hundred came in just 95 balls, as he dominated England’s bowling attack, sending a strong message ahead of future tournaments.
England’s Struggles Continue – A Series to Forget
For Jos Buttler & Co., this tour has been nothing short of disastrous. Losing seven out of eight white-ball matches against India raises significant concerns about England’s approach and squad depth.
Despite possessing big names like Buttler, Bairstow, and Malan, England’s batting lineup failed to deliver in crunch situations. Their bowling attack, missing key players, looked toothless against a rampant Indian batting unit.
With the T20 World Cup & Champions Trophy approaching, England will need serious introspection to rebuild their squad for upcoming ICC events.
What’s Next for Team India?
With a dominant ODI series win under their belt, India will now shift their focus to future assignments. The squad has gained massive momentum leading into Champions Trophy 2025, and the challenge will be to maintain consistency.
Key Takeaways for India Post-Series:
✅ Gill, Kohli & Iyer’s strong form is a big plus for the batting unit
✅ The bowling attack looks well-rounded, but identifying Bumrah’s backup is crucial
✅ Team balance and strategy fine-tuning ahead of major ICC events
The Men in Blue have embraced an aggressive, fearless approach in white-ball cricket, and Rohit Sharma & Co. will look to refine their strategies further as they prepare for the global stage.
With Champions Trophy 2025 on the horizon, India has sent a strong message – they are here to dominate. 🔥🏏
Final Thoughts
India’s 3-0 series win against England was a testament to their batting firepower, bowling depth, and overall team synergy. While Rohit Sharma remains cautious about areas needing improvement, the team’s form and mindset heading into the Champions Trophy 2025 look promising.
As fans celebrate this resounding victory, one thing is certain – Team India is gearing up for something special in the coming months!
