India defeated England by four wickets in the first ODI at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel played crucial roles with the bat, scoring well-paced half-centuries to help India comfortably chase down England’s total of 248.
England, after opting to bat first, got off to a strong start with Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell scoring fifties. However, India’s disciplined bowling effort, led by debutant Harshit Rana and experienced campaigner Mohammed Shami, restricted them to a modest total.
Rana, despite an expensive first over, bounced back impressively to claim three wickets. Ravindra Jadeja also made a significant impact with the ball, finishing with figures of 3/26.
Phil Salt gave England an aggressive start, attacking Rana in his first over and smashing 26 runs, including three sixes and two fours. However, India quickly regained control, thanks to sharp fielding and well-executed bowling changes.
Shreyas Iyer’s direct hit led to Salt’s dismissal, breaking England’s early momentum. Ben Duckett played a useful knock but was dismissed in spectacular fashion when Yashasvi Jaiswal took a stunning diving catch off Rana’s bowling.
Rana struck again in the same over, removing Harry Brook, while Jadeja got the prized wicket of Joe Root, trapping him LBW.
England’s captain Jos Buttler tried to hold the innings together, scoring a well-constructed fifty, but his stay was cut short by Axar Patel.
Bethell showed resilience with his half-century, but England kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav quickly cleaned up the tail, ensuring England were bowled out for 248.
India’s chase began with a minor setback as captain Rohit Sharma failed to make an impact on his return to ODIs. However, Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a composed 87, providing stability at the top.
Shreyas Iyer contributed a fluent 59, ensuring India stayed in control of the chase. Axar Patel’s fifty added to the team’s strong performance, taking them closer to victory.
Despite Virat Kohli’s absence due to a knee injury, India’s batting unit handled the chase comfortably. The hosts reached the target with four wickets and 64 balls to spare, marking their first ODI win since December 2023.
India and England will now face off in the second ODI on February 9 in Odisha.
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