After a 4-0 defeat in the T20I series, Team India made a strong start to the ODI series by defeating England by six wickets at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
Chasing 259, India reached the target in 45.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three match series.
England were bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs. Joe Root top scored with 76, while Liam Dawson made 68. Axar Patel was India’s best bowler with four wickets, while Prasidh Krishna and Brar claimed two wickets each.
India’s chase did not begin well. Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 11, while Virat Kohli managed only five runs. With both senior batters back in the pavilion inside the first 10 overs, England looked in control.
Captain Shubman Gill then steadied the innings with an unbeaten 80 before retiring hurt due to a hamstring injury.
Shreyas Iyer played an important knock of 35 as the pair added a crucial partnership to bring India back into the game.
After Gill retired hurt, India lost Shreyas and KL Rahul in quick succession. Could England make a comeback? Axar Patel and Washington Sundar did not allow that to happen.
The two all rounders added an unbeaten 102 run stand, with Axar scoring 57 not out and Sundar remaining unbeaten on 52, to seal the win.
The result showed the difference between the two formats. After struggling in T20Is, India looked far more comfortable in the 50 over format.
Gill led from the front, Axar delivered with both bat and ball, and Sundar finished the chase calmly.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed in the first ODI, but India will hope the experienced duo find their rhythm in the remaining matches.
The victory was also a historic one as India registered their sixth consecutive ODI win over England for the first time ever.
