India vs England 3rd ODI, Highlights: India beat England by 7 runs, clinch series 2-1

336 is a massive total, so I don't think there is anything wrong with the approach of the Indian batsmen. It's the bowling that has to stand up and it's all about picking wickets: VVS Laxman on Star Sports ahead of India vs England 3rd ODI.

England openers Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy have been nothing short of brilliant at times scary if you are an Indian fan in this ODI series. Their moto has been simple - hit as many boundaries as possible and never allow the Indian spinners to settle down. So far, the formula has done wonders for them. India need to strike with the new ball to stop onslaught. And who better than Bhuvneshwar Kumar to do the job? He has been bowling fairly well with the new ball but the early wicket has somehow eluded him.

Virat Kohli and milestones always go hand-in-hand. The ace cricketer is set to lead India in his 200th match across formats when he walks out for the toss in the IND vs ENG 3rd ODI in Pune today.

While all the talk has been around the sixth bowler and Kuldeep Yadav's poor show, one thing India cannot afford to ignore is their approach to ODI cricket while batting first. There seems to be a notion that a 320-plus score is 'safe' and the middle-order despite there being a boundary-rider less from overs 20 to 40, is quite happy to knock it around for ones and twos. Compare that to a side like England, who believe in maximizing the middle-overs with a flurry of boundaries, it is always going to leave India short of runs while defending more often than not.

The sixth bowler or the absence of it has been hurting India a lot in ODI cricket of late. The biggest reason behind that is Hardik Pandya not bowling. The ace all-rounder who bowled in all 5 T20Is against England has not bowled a single delivery in the ODI series so far. India captain Virat Kohli said they don't want to risk Pandya as his workload has to be managed carefully till the T20 World Cup. But does that mean India are ready to bear the brunt in ODIs?

Despite a record-breaking debut in the first ODI, Krunal Pandya might have to make way for Washington Sundar. The reason being, the former's not so impressive show with the ball. Sundar, known more for his economical bowling, might just be the extra cushion India need to stoop the onslaught from the England batters.

With scores of 62* and 104, KL Rahul is back among the runs. But contrary to his distractors, was he ever out of form? At least not in ODIs? Here is a little trivia for all those who thought Rahul was batting poor form - Since the start of 2020, KL Rahul has scored 613 runs in ODIs – the third most by any player. In fact, his average of 68.11 is the best among 13 batters who have batted in 10 or more innings since the start of 2020.

It's no secret that the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan has been one of India's best in ODIs. In fact, after Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, it's Dhawan and Rohit's pair who have amassed the most runs together as openers. On Sunday, Rohit and Dhawan can create by becoming only the fourth opening pair to put together 5000 runs on ODIs. Dhawan and Rohit are 125 runs away from getting there. Indian fans will be hoping that today is the day that happens.

Virat Kohli is at a stage in his career, where the rate at which he is performing, the India captain by default is breaking records. And Sunday could be no different. Why, you ask? Well, here's why. With 5442 runs in 92 innings as captain, Kohli is fifth on the list of highest run-getters as captain, behind Ricky Ponting, MS Dhoni, Stephen Fleming and Arjuna Ranatunga. He has the opportunity to climb a place higher, but that will require a gigantic effort from the India captain. Having not scored an international century since November of 2019, Kohli will have to score 167 runs at least to pip Ranatunga and go fourth on the list? So what do you think, folks? Possible?

He's scored five half-centuries in a row, but hitting a century is a code Virat Kohli can't seem to be cracking at the moment. Imagine, 43 centuries before December 2019, but not a single one since. On being asked if it's something that's bothering him, the India captain said 'Hundreds are something he has never paid attention to', and perhaps that's why he's 'gotten so many so quickly'. This is an unusual drought, for a player for whom getting centuries was never tough. Then again, happens to the best, doesn't it? Remember 2007, when the great Sachin Tendulkar went through the same, repeatedly getting dismissing in the 90s? Wow, here comes another comparison.

This is the game where India cannot afford to make a single mistake. A defeat here, and it will be three ODI series defeat in a row for Kohli. Hence, it is important for the India captain to get his Playing XI right. The one spot which surely will change for today's game is that of India's frontline spinner. Kuldeep Yadav has gone wicketless in the last two matches - giving away 68 and 84 runs respectively. Either Yuzvendra Chahal or Washington Sundar is likely to replace him.

It's time for the all-important decider. India won the first ODI, England came roaring back to take the second... and rather comprehensively. The final match of England's tour of India is finally upon us, and with the series locked at 1-1, a win for either side is crucial. England would be high on confidence following their thrashing of India by six wickets on Friday, but then again, not teams have the all-rounder ability of India. For Virat Kohli, it's a must-win, for a defeat here will result in Kohli losing three bilateral ODI series in a row. Can he avert it? Or will England end this phenomenal India tour with something to savour?