IND vs ENG: Shubman Gill's steady 87 guides India to outplay tourists by 4 wickets in the 1st ODI

On the back of brilliant batting and bowling performances, India outplayed England by a 4-wicket margin in the first ODI of the three-match series. The ODI series opener was played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday. The hosts dominated most of the part of the game and finished it up on a winning note.

England skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and asked his batters to take the charge first; batting first, the visitors got a brilliant start of 75 runs for the first wicket by the opening pair of Phil Salt and Ben Duckett. England faced the first blow when Salt (45 runs off just 26 balls, with five fours and three sixes) fell prey to a run-out in the ninth over of the first innings.

Benn Duckett also scored 32 runs, followed by two half-centuries scored by skipper Jos Buttler (52 runs) and young batter Jacob Bethell (51 runs). However, these knocks came for England amidst a batting collapse and their continuous struggle against the Indian bowling attack.

So, England were bundled out at the score of 248 runs in 47.4 overs. the veteran India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja bowled the most economical bowling stint of the entire match, scalping 3 wickets at just 26 runs in his nine overs, including a maiden over. Besides him, the debutant pacer Harshit Rana also claimed 3 wickets in his seven-over stint. Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav also picked up a wicket each for India.

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Shubman Gill leads the charge for India

While chasing the target, India lost both their openers at the team’s score of just 19 runs in 5.2 overs. Then came a steady partnership of 96 runs for the third wicket between vice-captain Shubman Gill and star number four batter Shreyas Iyer before the latter was dismissed at the brilliant individual score of 59 runs off just 36 balls, hitting 9 fours and two sixes.

Furthermore, Shubman Gill stitched another amazing partnership with number five batter and all-rounder Axar Patel. The duo added 108 runs for the fourth wicket; Axar went back to the pavilion with an individual score of 52 runs off 47 balls, with six fours and a six.

Gill played a decisive knock of 87 runs off 96 balls, with 14 fours to keep India in the game throughout their entire run-chase in the second innings. 

Eventually, India won the game by 4 wickets, scoring 251 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 38.4 overs with star all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya unbeaten. Jadeja scored 12 runs off 10 balls, with two fours while Pandya added 9 runs off 6 balls, with a six.

With this win in the Nagpur ODI, Rohit Sharma’s men have also taken the lead of 1-0 against England in the three-match series. 

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