By The Sampadak Express
The first ODI between India and England provided a mixture of experimentation and solid performances, with India comfortably chasing down a target of 249 with four wickets to spare in just 39 overs. For the 44,900 spectators in attendance, it was an occasion to celebrate an Indian win, but for the Indian team, every match in this series is an opportunity to test new strategies, combinations, and plans ahead of the Champions Trophy starting in two weeks.
Rohit Sharma’s Form Remains a Concern
One of the primary talking points of the match was the ongoing struggle of India’s captain, Rohit Sharma. Despite his pleasing technique, Rohit has not been able to find consistent runs, and his dismissals in recent times have been far from ideal.
On Thursday, Rohit walked out to bat with Yashasvi Jaiswal, replacing Virat Kohli who was sidelined with a sore right knee. Rohit, however, lasted just seven deliveries before being dismissed. He looked tentative at the crease, struggling to get going and eventually spooned a catch to mid-on off an inswinger from Saqib Mahmood. Rohit’s form will be a key area of concern as India prepares for the Champions Trophy.
Shreyas Iyer Shines With a Match-Winning Knock
While Rohit’s struggle continued, Shreyas Iyer once again showed his value in the middle order. Often overshadowed by bigger names in the Indian line-up, Iyer continues to be one of the most consistent performers in ODIs.
India found themselves in a tricky situation early in their chase, with both openers back in the hut by the fifth over. Iyer, however, knew the England pacers would target him with short-pitched deliveries, especially on a pitch that offered enough bounce. Using his backfoot trigger technique, Iyer dispatched Jofra Archer for a towering six over midwicket and followed it up with another ramped six off a short delivery.
Iyer’s positive approach helped India regroup. Together with Shubman Gill, Iyer built a crucial 93-run partnership off 64 balls. Iyer’s attacking strokeplay, including powerful drives, reverse sweeps, and cuts against both spin and pace, ensured that India stayed ahead of the required run rate. His quickfire 59 off 36 balls (9×4, 2×6) kept the pressure on England and provided the necessary momentum for the chase.
Axar Patel Provides a Boost, Shubman Gill Controls the Chase
As India looked to accelerate the chase, they promoted left-hander Axar Patel up the order, a move that paid off. Gill, who was content to let Iyer do the heavy lifting earlier, now watched as Axar targeted England’s spinners, particularly Adil Rashid. Axar’s quick-fire runs helped India continue to push ahead. Gill, on the other hand, remained composed and continued to rotate the strike while punishing the bad balls. His 87 runs off 96 balls (14×4) was an innings of controlled aggression, allowing India to maintain their momentum through the middle overs.
Although Gill could not finish the chase like Virat Kohli would, his steady knock provided the stability India needed to stay on track.
England’s Early Onslaught and Middle Order Collapse
England started their innings on the front foot, with openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett taking full advantage of the early powerplay. They put on a brisk 75-run stand by the ninth over before Harshit Rana struck twice, bringing India back into the game. The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav then applied the brakes on England’s scoring rate.
Jadeja, in particular, was outstanding, exploiting some turn off the pitch to get the crucial breakthrough of Joe Root (19), who was trapped leg-before by an arm ball. With England at 111/4 in the 19th over, the game seemed to be slipping away from them.
Buttler and Bethell Fight Back, but India Maintain Control
Despite the collapse, Jos Buttler and debutant Jacob Bethell fought back with a resilient 59-run partnership. While Buttler top-scored for England with a well-made 52, his attempt to hit a loose delivery from Axar Patel ended in his downfall, handing India a crucial wicket.
Bethell, who had been uncomfortable against the spinners, was eventually dismissed by Jadeja for 51, caught plumb in front while attempting a sweep. Jadeja finished with impressive figures of 9-1-26-3, the pick of India’s bowlers, while Axar Patel (7-0-38-1) was steady but not as penetrative.
Mohammed Shami’s Return to ODI Action
One of the key storylines heading into this series was the return of Mohammed Shami to the ODI fold after a 15-month absence. Shami’s rhythm looked good, and while he was not as effective early on due to the openers’ aggressive start, he provided an important breakthrough when he removed Brydon Carse at the death with a classic length delivery. Shami finished with figures of 8-1-38-1, showing he still has a lot to offer India ahead of the Champions Trophy.
India’s Strategy and Selection ConcernsIndia’s win, though comfortable in the end, was also about fine-tuning their strategy. With just a couple of weeks left before the Champions Trophy, India used this match to experiment with different combinations. While the performance of Jadeja and Iyer was reassuring, there are still questions about the fitness and form of Rohit Sharma and the depth of India’s bowling attack.
The inclusion of Varun Chakravarthy could be a potential change for the Champions Trophy, with either Axar Patel or Washington Sundar possibly making way. India’s bowling resources will also need to be closely assessed, especially with the ever-changing conditions they will face in Dubai.
India’s 4-wicket win over England in the first ODI was a strong start to the series, with standout performances from Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja. The team will be looking to build on this victory as they continue experimenting and finalizing their plans for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
