India vs England: Michael Vaughan predicts hosts' score in the third ODI

India and England are up against each other in the last One Day International of the three-match series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. It is a crucial game for both the cricketing superpowers as the marquee series is leveled at 1-1 after India scripted a victory in the first match by 66 runs followed by England’s comeback in the second One Day where they won by 6 wickets.

Coming into the nail-biting contest, Indian skipper Virat Kohli didn’t have any luck at toss this time too as it went in the favor of England skipper Jos Buttler and he invited the hosts to put a total on the board first. Unlike the previous two One Day Internationals, India got off to a decent start in the ongoing fixture as they made the most out of the first powerplay.

Opening the innings, the star opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan took the England bowlers to the cleaners as in the first 10 over they collected 65 runs without losing any wicket. Seeing both the opening batters in rhythm, former England captain Michael Vaughan, who is quite active on social media, took to his official Twitter handle to predict that India will post a mammoth score of 370+ on the board.

Also, Vaughan believes that India are going to be aggressive with the willow after seeing the power-hitting done by Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in the previous game. Interestingly, thus far India hasn’t got off to a terrific start as they haven’t hit a single six in the first 20 overs of the first two ODIs.

“370 + I reckon..India surely are going to be more aggressive .. India so far in this series haven’t hit 1 six in the first 20 overs !!! England have hit 15 !!!  #INDvsEND” Vaughan wrote

370 + I reckon .. India surely are going to be more aggressive .. India so far in this series haven’t hit 1 six in the first 20 overs !!! England have hit 15 !!! #INDvsEND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 28, 2021

Spinners get the better of India’s top-order

However, the former England skipper went slightly wrong with his prediction as, after a decent start in the powerplay, all the three top-order batsmen including Rohit, Shikhar, and Virat Kohli lost their wickets to spinners within 20 overs. They were soon followed by KL Rahul to the pavilion as he was dismissed by Liam Livingstone while playing at 7. 

Meanwhile, after 39 overs, India is reeling at a score of 276 runs owing to the heroics of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya.