The important-awaited India vs England 1st ODI took place at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on February 6, 2025. Both brigades came into the match with high prospects, with India looking to carry forward their instigation from the T20I series and England eager to bounce back.
Toss and Team News
England won the toss and decided to club first, hoping to put up a grueling aggregate on a fur-friendly face. The Indian platoon handed ODI debuts to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harshit Rana, while England ate back Joe Root after a 15- month absence from the format. specially, Virat Kohli was absent due to a sore right knee.
England’s Innings A Mixed Performance
England got off to a flying launch, with openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett putting up a brisk 75- run cooperation in just under nine overs. swab was the raider, smashing 43 off 26 balls before a miscommunication led to his unfortunate run- eschewal.
India struck back snappily as debutant Harshit Rana made an immediate impact, dismissing Duckett( 32) and Harry Brook( 0) in quick race, reducing England to 77/3. Joe Root and captain Jos Buttler tried to stabilize the innings, but India’s disciplined bowling kept them under pressure.
The English middle order plodded to maintain instigation, with Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav tensing the screws. Root’s case 45 off 60 deliveries handed some resistance, but lattices at regular intervals averted England from accelerating. A late flourish from Moeen Ali( 35 off 22) helped England reach a competitive 270/8 in 50 overs.
India’s Bowling Performance
Harshit Rana’s debut was a dream launch, finishing with numbers of 2/38 in seven overs. Mohammed Shami was also effective, claiming 3/52, while Kuldeep Yadav’s spin variations troubled the middle order. Hardik Pandya minced in with pivotal lattices, icing England did n’t post an indeed bigger aggregate.
India’s Chase Early Lattices but a Strong Middle Order
Chasing 271, India faced an early reversal as Rohit Sharma departed for just 12 runs, trapped LBW by Reece Topley. Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal also took charge, putting together a steady 85- run stage. Jaiswal impressed on debut with a well- drafted 48, but he fell just short of his demoiselle ODI fifty.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul sustained the innings after Gill’s redundancy . Iyer’s aggressive strokeplay( 52 off 47) kept the needed run rate in check, while Rahul played the anchor part. The match took a dramatic turn when India lost quick lattices, including Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya in race, bringing England back into the game.
With 40 runs demanded off the last six overs, Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul guided India towards palm with advised aggression. Rahul’s unbeaten 76 off 92 balls assured India crossed the line with five lattices in hand and three overs to spare.
