Wankhede Stadium witnessed a batting masterclass as India crushed England by a staggering 150 runs in the fifth and final T20I. Chasing a mammoth 248 for victory, England crumbled under the pressure, ultimately falling all out for a mere 97 runs. India's bowlers wrapped up the match with nearly ten overs to spare, sealing a dominant series win.
England's chase was a disastrous affair from the start. Despite Phil Salt's quickfire 55 runs off 23 balls, wickets tumbled around him. No other English batsman could withstand the onslaught, and the innings quickly spiraled out of control. Even Mohammed Shami, returning from injury, joined the party, claiming his first international wicket since his comeback.
Earlier in the day, Abhishek Sharma played an innings for the ages, smashing a record-breaking 135 runs off just 54 balls. His explosive knock propelled India to a formidable total of 247/9 in their 20 overs. Sharma nearly carried his bat through the entire innings, falling in the 18th over after an extraordinary display of power hitting.
Shivam Dube, continuing his impressive form from the fourth T20I, joined the carnage, contributing a rapid 30 runs off just 13 balls. The Abhishek-Dube partnership proved devastating for England, adding quick runs and further increasing the pressure. Sharma's century, reached in a mere 37 balls, set the stage for India's massive total. He and Tilak Varma had earlier forged a crucial 115-run partnership off just 43 balls for the second wicket, laying the foundation for India's explosive innings.
England captain Jos Buttler, winning the toss for the second consecutive time, opted to bowl first. He made a lighthearted reference to the concussion substitute controversy from the previous match, mentioning that England had "four impact subs" at their disposal.
The fifth T20I had a backdrop of tension and controversy stemming from the fourth match. England were still seething from the concussion substitute decision that allowed Harshit Rana to replace Shivam Dube. Despite losing the series, England was determined to put up a strong fight at Wankhede Stadium. However, India's dominant performance with both bat and ball ensured a comprehensive series victory for the hosts.
