India's best T20 rating against England seals series
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma powered India to their best ever 2020 rating against England because they clinched the series 3-2 with a good convincing 36-run get on Saturday.
India captain Kohli strike an unbeaten 80 and shared an beginning stand of 94 with Sharma, who made a blistering 64, as India reached 224 for two within an empty stadium in Ahmedabad.
After losing Jason Roy on the next ball of the innings, Dawid Malan made 68 and Jos Buttler 52 off 34 deliveries. But England cannot continue the chase and completed on 188 for eight.
Indian seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who bowled Roy for a duck, returned wonderful figures of 2-15 to be named man of the meet.
The win was a crucial confidence boost for India before they host the T20 World Cup in October. They have earned or drawn their last eight series.
Kohli said the effect showed what India, just behind top-ranked England on the globe T20 international ranks, can do when they are "firing".
"I think it had been a complete game for us, totally outplayed the opposition even with so much dew to arrive," said Kohli.
England captain Eoin Morgan admitted: "India outplayed us in the big occasions of the overall game."
For the next straight match, Morgan won the toss and found India's batters surge ahead.
- Jordan stunner -
Kohli promoted himself to the opening slot with Sharma and the match took advantage of a good batting wicket to help India beyond their previous finest of 218 against England at the 2007 Globe Twenty20 in Durban.
Sharma reach five sixes found in his 34-ball blitz before he dragged a slower leg-cutter from Ben Stokes onto his stumps.
"Tonight it was classic Rohit Sharma; just how he bats," explained Kohli, who was simply named gentleman of the series for his 231 runs, incorporating three half-centuries in five suits.
"Near the top of the order if he can take up like this more regularly, freely rather than worry about playing through to 15-16 overs, it will likely be a lot of destruction for the opposition."
Suryakumar Yadav kept up the strike with a good flurry of sixes and fours found in his 32 off 17 balls, but a gorgeous fielding manoeuvre by Chris Jordan chop short his innings.
Yadav hit an Adil Rashid ball towards the boundary for a good likely six and Jordan sprinted from long-on to try a one-handed catch.
He flicked the ball to Roy who completed the relay catch with a laugh.
"It is a joy to view and it calls for the experience to a complete new level for supporters," Morgan said of Jordan's gorgeous effort.
Kohli, who reach seven fours and two sixes found in his 52-ball knock, stood firm and along with Hardik Pandya, who smashed 39, put on 81 for the third wicket.
England kept up the chase given that Malan was in.
He passed his first fifty of the series and became the quickest player to attain 1,000 T20I runs, in 24 complements, prompting Kohli to rotate his bowling alternatives.
Kumar sent back Buttler and Thakur struck twice within an to dismiss Jonny Bairstow, for seven, and Malan as England wilted.
The teams will up coming play three one-time internationals in Pune on March 23, 26 and 28.
