Nagpur: India registered a convincing win against England, taking their first ODI match by four wickets at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on February 6, 2025, with 64 balls remaining. The victory came after solid performances from Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel, who all scored half-centuries. Despite losing their openers cheaply, India showed resilience and tactical proficiency to chase down England's total of 248 runs.
England, opting to bat first, initially set the pace with their openers, Phil Salt and Ben Duckett, putting on 73 runs within the first eight overs. Salt's aggressive innings saw him score 43 off just 26 deliveries, hitting three sixes and five fours before being run out following confusion between the two batters. England quickly lost momentum, tumbling from 75 without loss to 77 for three as debutant Harshit Rana and veteran Ravindra Jadeja struck together, each claiming three wickets.
Jos Buttler tried to stabilize the innings with 52 runs, supported by Jacob Bethell's 51, yet England was restricted to 248 all out after 47.4 overs. Jadeja proved his importance with the ball, taking three wickets for just 26 runs, with Rana completing his impressive debut with figures of 3 for 53.
Chasing the modest target, India began poorly, losing both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma early on, leaving them at 19 for two. Enter Shubman Gill, the vice-captain, who played a skilled innings of 87 off 96 balls. He was instrumental in stabilizing the innings, forming key partnerships with fellow batsmen. Shreyas Iyer took on the aggressive role, smashing 59 runs off only 36 balls, including two sixes and nine boundaries. Iyer's swift half-century played a pivotal role, providing momentum back to the Indian innings.
After Iyer's departure, Axar Patel was promoted to number five, which proved strategic as he scored 52 off 47 balls, sharing an impressive 108-run partnership with Gill. Captain Rohit Sharma explained the tactical choice, emphasizing the need for a left-hand batsman against the English spinners: "We wanted to exploit the situation; their left-arm spinners would challenge left-handers." Patel’s innings showcased his ability to adapt to the game situation and maintain the required run rate.
Gill's knock consisted of 14 boundaries, anchoring the chase and ensuring India remained on course. His dismissal came as he aimed for quick runs but fell just short of his century, caught at mid-on off Saqib Mahmood. Following Gill's exit, Jadeja and Hardik Pandya ensured India comfortably crossed the finish line with plenty of overs to spare, confirming their victory with 11.2 overs to go.
Post-match, captain Rohit expressed contentment with the team's performance, noting the importance of adapting to the ODI format and praised the bowlers for their effective execution. "Credit to the bowlers, everyone chipped in. It was important for us to keep going, we took wickets at key times," he stated during the presentation.
The match highlighted India's batting depth and strategy, especially with Virat Kohli absent due to injury. With the series now tilted 1-0 in India's favor, attention turns to the second ODI scheduled for Cuttack, where India aims to secure the series against England.
Overall, this win not only marks India’s first ODI victory against England but also sets the tone for future matches, showcasing strong performances and the team's resilience.