After dominating the T20I series, India gave England no chance in the ODI format as well. In the first ODI in Nagpur, the hosts secured an easy victory by 4 wickets with 68 balls to spare. With this win, Rohit Sharma’s team has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing England’s target of 249 runs, India found themselves under pressure early, losing two wickets for just 19 runs. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (15) and Rohit Sharma (2) departed quickly. However, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel steadied the innings and brought India back into the match.
Both players scored quick fifties— Iyer made 59 off 36 balls, while Axar scored 52 off 47. Although Adil Rashid dismissed Axar and KL Rahul (2) in consecutive overs, he couldn’t derail India’s chase.
Shubman Gill, who was approaching a century, scored 87 runs off 96 balls with 14 boundaries before being dismissed by Saqib Mahmood. By then, India’s victory was just a matter of time.
In the end, Hardik Pandya (9) and Ravindra Jadeja (12) comfortably sealed the win for India.
England’s Bright Start, But Collapse Follows
Earlier, England had a strong start after winning the toss and opting to bat. Phil Salt and Ben Duckett put on a 75-run opening stand in just 53 balls. Salt scored 43 off 26 balls, hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes.
However, Indian pacer Harshit Rana turned the game around in the 10th over by taking two quick wickets in a single over. Duckett scored 32 off 29 balls before getting out, while Harry Brook departed for a duck.
Joe Root managed 19 runs off 31 balls but couldn’t build a big innings. Later, Jos Buttler (52) and Jacob Bethell (51) notched up fifties, but neither could take England to a formidable total.
Jofra Archer’s unbeaten 21 off 18 balls provided some late resistance, but England was eventually bowled out for 248.
For India, Ravindra Jadeja and Harshit Rana took three wickets each.
India Takes the Series Lead
With this win, India has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. If England fails to bounce back in the second ODI, India could seal the series early.
