 "Shubman Gill in action during the first ODI against England. Image: AP")
India and England squared off in the opening ODI of their three-match series in Nagpur, where the home side chased down a 249-run target in just 39 overs. India won the match by 4 wickets. Despite a promising start, England’s bowlers failed to sustain their momentum, as India’s batters delivered a disciplined performance to keep the visitors at bay.
Shubman Gill and Axar Patel finish the job with bat
Shubman Gill batted superbly as he forged two crucial partnerships to help India go closer to victory. Gill scored a solid 87 off 96 balls including 14 boundaries before he was dismissed by Saqib Mahmood in the closing overs of Indian innings. Earlier, Shreyas Iyer smashed 59 off 36 balls to set the tone for India. Axar Patel also proved his worth with the bat as he scored 52 off 47 balls before being dismissed.
Harshit Rana and Ravindra Jadeja shine with the ball
The standout performances came from Harshit Rana and Ravindra Jadeja, both of whom claimed three wickets apiece. Rana, who had initially conceded runs, made a remarkable comeback, taking crucial wickets after the powerplay. His scalps included the dismissals of Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone.
Jadeja, known for his accuracy, was at his best, getting rid of key batters including Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, and Adil Rashid. His all-round consistency proved invaluable as he put the brakes on England’s scoring rate.
India’s other bowlers also contributed, with Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav adding to the wickets tally, Shami dismissing Brydon Carse, and Yadav sending Saqib Mahmood packing with a well-executed delivery.
England’s innings was built around a few solid individual performances. Captain Jos Buttler top-scored with a gritty 52 runs from 67 balls, hitting four boundaries. He appeared to hold the innings together, but after his dismissal by Hardik Pandya, England struggled to build partnerships.
Jacob Bethell, the 23-year-old all-rounder, played a vital knock of 51 from 64 balls, but like Buttler, couldn’t convert his start into a big score. The middle and lower order failed to provide the necessary support, as wickets continued to tumble.
The second ODI is scheduled to be played in Cuttack on Sunday, 9 February. The match will start at 1:30 PM IST.