India may not have got big scores from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the first ODI against England at Edgbaston, but the return of the senior stars appeared to bring renewed confidence to the team. India comfortably chased down 259 to take a 1-0 lead in the series, with Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel leading the way.
The excitement surrounding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli was evident even before the match. Hundreds of Indian fans gathered outside the Indian team’s practice session at Edgbaston, waiting for hours to catch a glimpse of the two stars. Both Rohit and Virat spent time signing jerseys and memorabilia, delighting the fans who had travelled from across the UK and India.
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Those same fans were hoping to witness a Rohit-Virat masterclass during the match. However, both batters were dismissed cheaply, leaving India at 48 for 2 while chasing England’s total of 258.
Recovery begins
England sensed an opportunity after removing both experienced batters in quick succession. However, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with a crucial partnership that shifted the momentum back in India’s favour.
Gill once again underlined his importance in the ODI format with a composed knock of 80. He looked well on course for a century before suffering cramps and retiring hurt on 80.
Shreyas Iyer continued the form he had shown during the T20 series and played another valuable innings before being run out. Together, Gill and Iyer put India firmly in control of the chase.
Calm finish
India briefly lost momentum after KL Rahul departed cheaply following Iyer’s dismissal, giving England a glimmer of hope.
However, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel ensured there would be no late collapse. The pair stitched together an unbeaten century partnership to guide India to a comfortable victory.
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Both players, who were also part of India’s T20 squad, looked significantly more assured in the 50-over format as they calmly saw the chase through.
Senior influence
One of the biggest takeaways from the match was the impact of the return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.
Although Rohit and Virat did not contribute significantly with the bat, their presence appeared to lift the confidence of the rest of the side.
As Siddharth Mahan observed, “The coming in of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah has changed the feel of this Indian team.”
He added, “It just looked today that the rest of the players raised their game around these experienced players.”
Bowling effort
Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah provided India with an excellent start by putting England under pressure with the new ball.
Joe Root and Liam Dawson rebuilt England’s innings with a useful partnership, but Axar Patel turned the game in India’s favour with a four-wicket haul.
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England eventually managed only 258, a total that proved insufficient as India completed the chase with relative comfort.
Series ahead
India now lead the ODI series 1-0 as the action moves to Cardiff with just a one-day gap between matches.
The victory has restored belief after a disappointing T20 series, with the experienced trio appearing to have brought much-needed composure to the side.
Many fans will now be hoping the next match delivers what they came to watch—a trademark innings from Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, along with another Indian victory.
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