We move to the east, to Dhoni's hometown of Ranchi for the third ODI. It will be the first ODI for Ranchi, David Hopps' match report for this game is here, and in a moment, I, Abhishek Purohit, will nowhere be near here. Time for a fine Gujarati dinner in honour of the Jamnagar boy Jadeja's performance. Cheers
Jadeja is Man of the Match. Jadeja: "Enjoyed my batting, wicket was good, ball was coming on, tried to play cricketing shots. Played for Kochi in IPL in 2011, I knew the wicket was bit slow, but once you get in, you can score runs. Mahi bhai was telling me, don't throw away your wicket. I was talking to Raina bhai, I said ball is turning, I might get wickets on this surface."
Dhoni: "Everyone performed well. We didn't get a good start, openers were finding it difficult, Yuvraj and Kohli gave us the platform. It seemed like a wicket that may flatten, we thought it will dry up and spinners may not get much turn. Good that I was wrong and our spinners got turn. Initially when there was something for the fast bowlers, it is important to see that phase off. It was not a wicket where you could win the toss and bowl first. Responsibility was on the batsman. Initially, when I and Raina had a partnership, we thought let us look for 240 or 250, and then when we are settled, lets target 260, we ended up getting 15 more. To go and play [the next game] at my city [Ranchi] will be very special. The crowd here was really superb, not to forget the heat and the humid weather. I think the wicket was a perfect Test wicket, something for the fast bowlers and turn for the spinners, which is what we are looking for. Good to see that Sreesanth is fit."
Cook: "Last ten overs we gave a 100 runs. It spun a little more [when we batted], but you cannot use that as an excuse. We were outbatted today. Those first ten overs we had a chance to get three four wickets, we didnt quite do that. Finn bowled well. Credit to India they put us under pressure."
England have lost 16 of their last 20 ODIs in India now, though this victory must feel as a comeback for the home side after losing the opening game narrowly in Rajkot. Terrific knocks on a slow, testing pitch from Dhoni and Jadeja putting India too far in front for England to catch up. And before the spinners got among the wickets, credit to young Bhuvneshwar Kumar for bowling ten top overs on the trot. England fell short similarly in the Ahmedabad Test before taking the recent series. How will they respond in the remaining three games?
Graham: "Today's one liner " Dhoni's helicopters crush England""
George: "One way to avoid death bowling issues."