Team India, on Saturday (March 20), beat England by 36 runs in the fifth and final T20I to clinch the series 3-2. India had their back against the wall after they lost two of the first three games. Another loss in the remaining two games would have resulted in series defeat but the Men in Blue bounced back in style and won both the games against the world number one T20I side.

The Virat Kohli-led side won the fourth game by eight runs before putting up a dominating performance in the series-decider. Asked to bat first, the hosts scored 224 for 2 – their highest-ever T20I total against England. Virat Kohli starred with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 80 and also shared a 94-run stand with Rohit Sharma (64).

In reply, England finished their innings on 188 for 8. After losing Jason Roy for a duck in the first over, the visitors put up a good fight thanks to fifties from Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler. For India, Shardul Thakur picked up three wickets while Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up 2 wickets.

Anand Mahindra fulfills his promise

Soon after India clinched the series, Mahindra and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra took to Twitter to fulfill his promise. As promised before the start of the T20I series, he posted a selfie of him wearing a pair of sunglasses that he termed as “Axar” shades. Mahindra had promised that he would post a picture of him wearing the “Axar” shades if India wins the T20 series.

It all began on March 6 when Mahindra had posted a picture of Indian all-rounder Axar Patel. In the photo, Axar was sporting a pair of sunglasses that seemed to have caught the interest of the Mahindra group chairman. Mahindra said he needed those sunglasses to celebrate India’s victory in the Test series over England.

Axar had played a big role in the win. The left-arm spinner was the second highest wicket-taker in the series with 27 scalps to his name. Later, Mahindra had posted a picture of the sunglasses and had written: “I said I was going to get myself a pair of ‘Axar’s shades’ to commemorate the series win. Bought a pair (thanks Sporting Tool Relish!) & all set to watch the match tonight. I know, I know; no shades needed to watch TV & wife thinks I’m crazy but maybe it’ll be a good luck charm!”.

As promised earlier, he posted a selfie on Sunday and wrote: “OK, have to fulfill a commitment. Here’s the promised selfie with my “Axar” shades…My new good luck charm that’s proven its worth…”

OK, have to fulfill a commitment. Here’s the promised selfie with my “Axar” shades…My new good luck charm that’s proven its worth…😊 pic.twitter.com/VdLSMCNkrs

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 21, 2021