The result of the ODI series between India and England is down to the last game, in a way, giving the entire tour a fitting end. Currently, the series stands at 1-1, with the visitors having blazed their way to victory in the second ODI.

Ahead of the big decider seven weeks after the Englishmen first set foot on the Indian soil, below are some noteworthy points:

India needs stronger starts

While the Indian batting line-up has got the runs needed, they’ve done so by accelerating at a later point in the innings. While they have kept runs coming in the form of singles and twos, the fact that they are facing the world champions means that they will have to get those boundaries and have faster starts to score at a higher run rate.

Spin trouble for the Men in Blue

The Indian spinners have conceded a staggering 283 runs in 35 overs they bowled in the two ODIs at an economy rate of 8.09. They have also accounted for only 1 wicket - Krunal Pandya’s scalp of Sam Curran in the first ODI.

Kuldeep Yadav conceded 8 sixes in the second game, scripting the record for the most sixes conceded by an Indian bowler in an ODI. Yuzvendra Chahal might be back in the final ODI between India and England for this very reason to try and improve India's bowling attack.

The English openers’ onslaught

Two ODIs, two century-stands for England’s opening partnership. The visitors’ opening pair of Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy has been impeccable, with partnerships of 110 (102) and 135 (89) runs between them in the first and the second ODI respectively.

They now have thirteen 100+ run partnerships in ODI cricket.

India holds a statistical advantage

While England might be riding on confidence, numbers favour an Indian victory. In all, the teams have faced each other 107 times in ODIs and India has won 54 of these encounters. On Indian soil, the teams have battled 54 times, of which the visitors have won only 17 games.

India also holds the record for the highest runs scored in Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Incidentally, that is also against England, chasing a total of 356 runs.

These are but mere numbers. Only time will tell who will pick up the trophy late tomorrow evening.

Can India break the trend?

In this tour, every series win has been a comeback win. The team taking home the spoils is also the team that has lost the first match. So far, it has been India. However, with England losing the first game, India has a chance to break this trend and make it a 3-0 clean sweep across.

England will, however, be keen to make the ODI series count after losing the T20I and Test series before ending the tour.

The last and final ODI between India and England will take place on 28th March 2021 at 1:30 PM IST in Pune.