The India-England ODI series has reached its most gripping phase yet. Team India won the series opener, but England hit back hard in the second match to level things at 1-1. That means whichever side wins the third and final ODI will walk away with the series itself. For fans, knowing the exact date and kickoff time of this decider has suddenly become essential, so nobody misses a single ball of the tour's biggest match.
July 19 set for the tour's last and most crucial contest
Team India's England tour has been a mixed bag so far. The side had already lost the five-match T20 series that preceded this ODI leg. There is some comfort in the ODI series though, since Team India has already won one match, which rules out a clean sweep in this format. The third and deciding ODI will now be played on July 19, a Sunday. This match also marks the final game of the entire tour, after which Team India's trip will officially wrap up.
Toss at 3 PM, match starts at 3:30 PM IST
The biggest question for fans is the exact timing of the match. The third and final ODI will start at 3:30 PM Indian Standard Time. Half an hour earlier, at 3 PM, both captains will walk out for the toss. Interestingly, the series opener also began at this very same time of 3:30 PM, while the second match was played at a different slot, starting at 5:30 PM. The match that begins at 3:30 PM will run for roughly seven hours and is expected to finish around 10:30 PM at night. Fans will need to plan their day accordingly so they don't miss any of the action from the toss to the final ball.
All eyes on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Being the final match of the series, this contest has also turned the spotlight on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Reports suggest this match could turn out to be Rohit Sharma's last appearance. The talk is that Rohit Sharma will either announce his retirement himself, or else be dropped from the side. Only time will tell how that plays out, but one number is already making headlines: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will together be playing their 400th international match in this very game, a landmark achievement in its own right. Fans will also be watching closely to see how these two seasoned batters perform with the bat in this decisive match.
