Jos Buttler's 131 seals England's dominant 4-0 T20I whitewash of India

Southampton: Jos Buttler produced one of the finest T20I innings of his career and Harry Brook continued his rich vein of form as England crushed India by 56 runs in the fifth and final T20 International on Saturday, sealing a dominant 4-0 series sweep.

The hosts piled up a daunting 257 for 3 after Buttler smashed a breathtaking 131 off 64 balls, while captain Brook remained unbeaten on 95 from just 45 deliveries. The pair put together a record-breaking 233-run stand for the second wicket, the highest partnership for any wicket in T20I history.

Chasing a mammoth target of 258, India showed greater intent with the bat than they had earlier in the series but never seriously threatened England's total, finishing on 201 for 8.

Ishan Kishan top-scored with a brisk 56 off 35 balls, while Tilak Varma struck 53 from just 25 deliveries. Their efforts, however, only reduced the margin of defeat as England remained firmly in control throughout the chase.

The comprehensive victory also ended India's run at the top of the ICC T20I team rankings after more than four years.

With the series already secured, England's batters played with complete freedom. Buttler, who reached his half-century in 34 balls, accelerated dramatically to bring up his century in just 17 more deliveries. His spectacular knock featured 12 fours and eight sixes and marked his second T20I century as well as his highest score in the format.

Brook, meanwhile, launched an early assault, racing to a 19-ball half-century before narrowly missing out on a hundred. The England skipper punished both pace and spin with equal ease, sharing a partnership that left India's bowlers with no answers.

India had struck early when Prasidh Krishna dismissed the dangerous Phil Salt, but the breakthrough only brought Buttler and Brook together. The duo combined for 16 sixes between them, matching the total number of maximums hit by the entire Indian batting line-up.

The visitors endured a forgettable day with the ball. Axar Patel conceded 63 runs in his four overs, while Prince Yadav leaked 60. Debutant Suryansh Shedge also struggled under pressure, giving away 39 runs from three overs as England accelerated relentlessly in the second half of the innings.

Brook was particularly severe on the spinners, using his footwork to devastating effect, while Buttler mixed elegant strokeplay with brute power to keep the scoreboard racing.

India's bowling unravelled after the halfway mark of the innings, allowing England to post one of their highest T20I totals against the visitors.