Man of the Series: The home team came back from behind to clinch the five-match series 3-2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
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During the fifth T20I of the ongoing England’s tour of India in Ahmedabad, India beat England by 36 runs to clinch the five-match series 3-2. In what was their second five-match T20I series, India managed to come back from behind and perform under difficult situation to lift the trophy.
In a series decider contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium, India restricted England to 188/8 whilst defending a 225-run target. Given the way in which England vice-captain Jos Buttler (52) and batsman Dawid Malan (68) were playing during their 130-run partnership for the second wicket, things appeared to go down to the wire.
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However, it was the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4-0-15-2) which broke the partnership as Buttler ended up hitting an aerial shot straight to Hardik Pandya at long-off.
Man of the Series today
While Bhuvneshwar was awarded the Man of the Match award, the award for the Man of the Series went to India captain Virat Kohli. Opening the batting in a T20I after more than two years, Kohli (80*) shared a brisk 94-run opening partnership alongside vice-captain Rohit Sharma (64).
Can’t be a better opening combo on the eye than @imVkohli & @ImRo45 !!! Could easily match @virendersehwag & @sachin_rt if they stick with this combo … #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 20, 2021
Despite batting at three positions throughout the series, Kohli top-scored from both the team by a comfortable margin. In five outings, Kohli’s 231 runs had come at an average and strike rate of 115.50 and 147.13 respectively which included as many as three half-centuries.
Kohli, who had first won a Man of the Series award in the shortest format in 2012, has now won his seventh such award at the highest level.
“Testimony to our batting depth. Today Rohit and me were both positive in our intent. We knew we could trust each other and one of us can play second fiddle if one takes off,” Kohli told Star Sports during the post-match presentation ceremony.
