Shafaqna Sports: Vice-captain Shubman Gill led India’s chase with elegance, while debutant Harshit Rana made an instant impact with the ball as the hosts secured a four-wicket victory over England in the first ODI on Thursday.
Gill (87), Shreyas Iyer (59), and Axar Patel (52) played crucial knocks, guiding India to a comfortable chase after Rana (3/53 in 7 overs) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/26 in 9) dismantled England for a modest 248.
Rana’s fourth over proved decisive, as he removed Ben Duckett and Harry Brook in quick succession, leaving England struggling despite fifties from skipper Jos Buttler (52) and Jack Bethell (51).
Chasing 249, Gill anchored the innings, stitching key partnerships with Iyer and Axar. He played second fiddle while Iyer dominated with attacking strokes, including back-to-back sixes off Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid. Once Iyer fell LBW to Bethell, Gill took charge, finding an able partner in Axar.
Gill’s innings, studded with 14 boundaries, provided stability, while Axar’s fluent fifty ensured India stayed on course. England struck late blows, but the hosts wrapped up the chase with 68 balls to spare.
Earlier, England started aggressively after choosing to bat, but India’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding turned the tide. Making his ODI debut, Rana had a tough start, conceding 26 runs in his first over to a rampaging Phil Salt (43). However, he bounced back strongly, playing a key role in India’s fightback.
