The numbers are ugly as the Champions Trophy approaches. ­England’s defeat in this final clash with India was their 16th in 23 one‑day interna­tionals since the start of the 2023 World Cup. The one-time ­world‑­beaters have long lost their winning habit, their latest offering a 142-run defeat in Ahmedabad, Rohit Sharma’s team easing to a 3-0 series victory. If that’s not brutal enough, in the aftermath Jos ­Buttler was having to discuss how much his side trained on the tour.

A chase of 357 could not be ruled out when England were 126 for two inside 18 overs, Joe Root building, Tom Banton beginning to bash. But an India attack built on variety instigated the collapse, the wickets shared around, Banton and Gus Atkinson joint top‑scorers with 38.

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Shubman Gill had strummed away earlier, his 112 backed up by ­half‑centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Adil Rashid took four for 64, his twirl one of the few things England have enjoyed in recent weeks. They leave with seven defeats and just one win.

An injury scare for Ben Duckett adds to the pain. As does the false accusation from Ravi Shastri in the commentary box that England had just one net session on the trip, “if not any”. The tourists practised multiple times during the T20 international series before halting sessions after the first ODI because of mounting injuries amid a tightly packed itinerary.

“I think we’ve had a reasonably long tour, a few long travel days,” Buttler, England’s white-ball captain, said. “There have been a couple of times we’ve not trained but we’ve certainly done plenty of training throughout the tour. We obviously try to create a really good environment but don’t mistake that for a lazy environment or a lack of effort. The guys are desperate to perform, do well and improve.”

The day began with a change in approach, Buttler choosing to field after consecutive four-wicket defeats. What early damage would Sharma inflict? The India captain had struck an electric 76-ball ton on Sunday evening but contributed just a run here, Mark Wood finding the edge and Phil Salt gobbling up behind.

Wood was impressive with the new ball, movement to go with his usual pace, but Gill and Kohli calmly constructed a 116-run stand. Gill had been ­building towards a bigger score after ­half‑centuries in the previous two games, and he was immaculate while charging down a familiar pitch; this is the ground he calls home in the Indian Premier League for ­Gujarat Titans. Kohli got to fifty at a run a ball, form rediscovered in his most dominant format.

However, Rashid’s drift brought the danger, turn finding the edge of the bat, Kohli’s knock over for 52. Gill advanced to his seventh ODI ­century in his 50th innings before Rashid ended it with a googly. Iyer perished on 78 to one of the Yorkshireman’s poorer deliveries, the right-hander flicking down the leg side to Salt. Hardik Pandya wanted to damage Rashid’s figures, launching consecutive sixes, but the perfect retort was a leg-break that invited the forward prod and took the stumps. Buttler is correct when he says Rashid is England’s most important player. India still muscled their way past 350.

The concern for England ­heading into their reply was the state of ­Duckett, who had been struggling with his left leg in the field. He still emerged as an opener with Salt, intent on a thrash even if movement was minimal. A 22-ball 34 from the left-hander included a remarkable eight boundaries, though the damage to his body is still unclear. “We’ll find out more over the next couple of days,” Buttler said.

Salt and Duckett celebrated a third consecutive 50 partnership together – this one inside six overs – but it’s the going gargantuan that hasn’t happened. ­Arshdeep Singh’s ­trickery prompted miscues from the pair, a knuckleball for Duckett, a slower-ball bouncer for Salt on 23.

Out strode Banton, playing his first international in three years, his first List‑A game since August 2020, Root pushed down to No 4. An early reverse slap off Washington Sundar for six was a reminder of the gifts that had him capped at the age of 20, and he treated Axar Patel to a similar stroke later on.

But a tumble of wickets killed the game before the second half of the innings. Kuldeep Yadav’s googly took Banton’s edge before Patel ­yorked Root with his round-arm chaos. Buttler never settled, dragging a Harshit Rana delivery on to his stumps, England falling to 154 for five inside the 25th over.

They just could not string together time in pairs, an 81-run partnership between Salt and Duckett in the ­second ODI their highest across eight matches on the tour. India managed eight more productive stands. It has not been much of a contest.