Gill , Shreyas fires India to a convincing win over England in 1st ODI

 

The ODI series against England serves as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the Champions Trophy. India comfortably won the first match of the series, though concerns remain over captain Rohit Sharma’s form.

England captain Jos Buttler won the toss in Nagpur and opted to bat first. However, the English batters struggled against India’s bowling attack, getting bowled out for 248. Their bowlers also failed to defend the total, as India secured a 4-wicket win with more than 11 overs to spare.

England’s Strong Start Falters

Playing on a fresh Nagpur pitch, England began aggressively, raising expectations of a 350-plus total. Opener Phil Salt (43 off 26 balls) took an attacking approach, smashing debutant pacer Harshit Rana for 26 runs in a single over. His opening partner Ben Duckett (32 off 29) also looked in good touch. While Rana proved expensive early on, Mohammed Shami was economical.

The game shifted dramatically with an unfortunate run-out. Salt, in an attempt to steal a third run, was dismissed due to a mix-up, breaking England’s solid opening stand. This triggered a collapse, as England lost three wickets in the space of eight balls—Salt, Duckett, and Harry Brook (0)—bringing India back into the contest.

Jos Buttler and Joe Root attempted to rebuild the innings, putting up a 34-run partnership in 51 balls. Given that England had raced to 77 runs in the first 10 overs, their slowdown seemed necessary. However, India did not allow the pair to settle for long. Ravindra Jadeja trapped Root (19) LBW, marking his return to ODI cricket after the 2023 World Cup with a modest score.

The most significant partnership for England came from Buttler (52) and Jacob Bethell (51), who added 59 runs. However, Axar Patel broke the stand, dismissing Buttler in his second spell. Despite an expensive over in the powerplay, Axar’s return was crucial in derailing England’s recovery.

India’s Bowlers Shine

Harshit Rana and Ravindra Jadeja claimed three wickets each, while Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Axar Patel took one apiece. Hardik Pandya remained wicketless but was economical, conceding only 37 runs in 7 overs, including a maiden. India’s well-rounded bowling performance will boost confidence ahead of the Champions Trophy.

India’s Batting: Concerns Over Rohit, Gill and Shreyas Steer the Chase

India was without Virat Kohli, who missed the match due to a knee injury. Consequently, Yashasvi Jaiswal made his ODI debut, opening alongside Rohit Sharma. However, both openers failed—Jaiswal managed only 15 before edging a wide delivery, while Rohit fell for just 2.

Rohit’s continued struggles in white-ball cricket remain a concern. As captain and opener, his poor form could trouble India in major tournaments. This will be a key point of focus for coach Gautam Gambhir.

Despite the early setbacks, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer guided India to victory with a crucial 92-run stand. Shreyas played a blistering knock of 59 off 36 balls before falling, but his aggressive approach ensured India never lost momentum. Having been dropped from India’s central contract, Shreyas' strong domestic performances earned him a place back in the team. His return to form is a positive sign for India’s middle order.

Gill, eyeing a century, slowed down in the final phase, but wickets at the other end—Axar Patel (52) and KL Rahul (2)—meant he had to accelerate again. In an attempt to reach three figures, he played an aggressive shot but was caught at mid-on, departing for 87.

Hardik Pandya (9*) and Jadeja (12*) completed the chase with ease. England’s spinners posed some challenges, but India overcame them to seal the win with 11.2 overs to spare.

Looking Ahead to the Second ODI

The second match will take place in Cuttack on Sunday. A win there will secure the series for India. Beyond just the result, Rohit Sharma will be keen to regain his form with the bat.