Rohit and Kohli fail to score; India secures first win of England tour powered by Gill and Axar
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma did not produce big scores, but India registered their first victory of the England tour with a convincing six-wicket win in the opening One-Day International.
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Extra Time Web Desk
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma did not produce big scores, but India registered their first victory of the England tour with a convincing six-wicket win in the opening One-Day International. The triumph was powered by impressive performances from Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar.
The Indian team had endured a difficult run during the England and Ireland tours leading up to this match. With the ODI World Cup in mind, the return of Kohli and Rohit to the ODI setup, along with Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion, attracted significant attention. However, it was Gill and Axar who stole the spotlight.
Batting first, England were bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs. Ben Duckett scored 43, Joe Root made 76, while Liam Dawson contributed a valuable 68. Axar Patel was the standout bowler for India, claiming four wickets. Harshit Brar and Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets each, while Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube took one wicket apiece.
In reply, India chased down the target comfortably, reaching 262 for 4 in 45.2 overs. Shubman Gill top-scored with 80, Axar Patel continued his all-round brilliance with 57, Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 52, and Shreyas Iyer added 35.
Axar Patel was deservedly named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round display. The game also marked a significant milestone for England captain Jos Buttler, who made his 200th international appearance.