England Falls Short as India Clinches Opening ODI Victory
England’s struggles in white-ball cricket continued as they suffered a four-wicket defeat against India in the first ODI in Nagpur. This was Brendon McCullum’s first match in charge of the 50-over format, but his tenure didn’t get off to the best of starts. Despite a promising beginning, England faltered with both bat and ball, allowing India to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Opting to bat first, England had a flying start, with Phil Salt smashing 43 off just 26 balls, including an explosive over against debutant Harshit Rana. But that momentum came to a screeching halt when Salt was run out after a mix-up with Ben Duckett. From 71-0, England slumped to 73-3 within minutes, with Rana dismissing Duckett and an out-of-form Harry Brook for a duck.
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Jos Buttler, leading from the front, looked steady and built a crucial stand with young Jacob Bethell. The England skipper managed a hard-fought 52, while Bethell, showing maturity beyond his years, made a gritty 51. However, just when England seemed to be recovering, another collapse ensued. Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, and Bethell all fell in quick succession, leaving England bowled out for 248 in 47.4 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Harshit Rana were the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking three wickets each.
In reply, India faced early jitters. Jofra Archer, making his long-awaited ODI return, struck early, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma cheaply, reducing India to 19-2. But the experienced duo of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer took charge. Gill played a composed innings, anchoring India’s chase with a well-crafted 87, while Iyer’s aggressive 59 off 36 balls provided the much-needed acceleration.
England’s bowlers did manage to create some late drama, with Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood picking up quick wickets, but the damage had already been done. Axar Patel’s crucial 52-run knock ensured there were no major hiccups, as India comfortably reached the target with 68 balls to spare.
Speaking after the match, England captain Jos Buttler admitted they were “40 to 50 runs short” and lamented the loss of early wickets. Meanwhile, India’s skipper Rohit Sharma praised his side’s composure, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the longer format after a T20-heavy schedule.
With India now in the driver’s seat, England will have to regroup quickly before the second ODI on Sunday. If they want to keep the series alive, they’ll need a much-improved performance with both bat and ball.
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