India secured a 4-wicket victory over England in the first ODI of the three-match series, thanks to a stellar performance from Shubman Gill and Axar Patel, who guided the team to 251 runs while chasing 248. After the match, debutant Harshit Rana expressed his excitement, saying, “Playing for India was a dream.” Meanwhile, Player of the Match Shubman Gill highlighted his favorite shot from the match, stating, “The pull shot I played was my favorite.” Axar Patel, who played a crucial knock, revealed that he was already aware of his potential promotion in the batting order.
🏏 Harshit Rana: “Playing for India Was a Dream Come True”
Making a dream debut, Harshit Rana picked up three wickets, becoming the only Indian to take 3 wickets in debut matches across all three formats. Reflecting on his performance, he said:
“I always dreamt of playing for India, and I worked extremely hard for this moment. Initially, I struggled with my length, but once I adjusted, I got my rewards. Phil Salt and Ben Duckett were trying to create room while batting, so I kept targeting the stumps. The pitch was assisting both fast and slow deliveries, so I experimented based on the batsmen’s approach.”
Harshit’s disciplined bowling played a key role in restricting England to 248 runs, ensuring India had a manageable target to chase.
🏏 Shubman Gill: “I Played Positive Cricket, Pull Shot Was My Favorite”
Shubman Gill, who played a match-winning knock of 87 runs, was awarded Player of the Match. Speaking about his innings, he emphasized his positive approach on a tricky pitch:
“I was looking to play positive cricket. The new ball was swinging, and spinners were getting turn, so I focused on playing smartly. When I was around 70, I played a pull shot that I absolutely loved—it was my favorite shot of the match. Axar and I aimed to score square of the wicket. As vice-captain, Rohit Bhai asked me to keep giving him inputs about the game, which was great learning for me.”
Gill’s aggressive yet calculated innings ensured India maintained control while chasing the target.
🏏 Axar Patel: “I Knew I Would Bat in the Middle Order”
Axar Patel, who contributed a crucial 52-run knock, revealed that he was prepared for a promotion in the batting order:
“I already knew that if wickets fell early, the team would prefer a left-right batting combination, so I was mentally prepared for the middle order. We tried using spin during the powerplay, but at that time, the ball was coming onto the bat well. There was turn available for spinners on this pitch. Adil Rashid bowled brilliantly by varying his pace, and he got turn. If we had done the same, we might have extracted even more turn from the surface.”
His partnership with Gill proved to be a game-changer, stabilizing India’s innings after early setbacks.
🏏 Rohit Sharma: “Very Happy with the Team’s Performance”
Indian captain Rohit Sharma praised the team’s performance, acknowledging that playing ODI cricket after a long gap was a challenge:
“I am really happy with how the team played. We knew it had been a while since we played ODIs, but the team executed the plan well. England had a good start, but we made a fantastic comeback. Jadeja read the pitch perfectly and bowled accordingly.”
Commenting on the batting order, he added:
“We wanted a left-handed batter in the middle order, and we know Axar is a capable batsman. He has proven himself multiple times. Both Gill and Axar batted exceptionally well.”
🏏 Jos Buttler: “Disappointed We Couldn’t Win”
England captain Jos Buttler admitted his disappointment after the loss, stating that his team fell short by 40-50 runs:
“We are disappointed with the result. We had a great start in the powerplay, but we kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Given how much turn spinners were getting in the second innings, an extra 40-50 runs would have made a big difference. We took early wickets in India’s innings, but Shreyas Iyer came in and counter-attacked well.”
Despite the loss, England showed signs of promise, and Buttler will be looking for a stronger comeback in the second ODI.
📢 Final Thoughts: India Takes a 1-0 Lead in the ODI Series
With this 4-wicket victory, India has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Shubman Gill’s authoritative batting, Axar Patel’s composed innings, and Harshit Rana’s impactful debut ensured India’s success.
As the second ODI approaches, all eyes will be on England’s response and whether India can seal the series with another win.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.