Captain Rohit Sharma’s much awaited comeback to one-day internationals turned out to be disappointing, however, India managed to triumph in the opening game of the three-match ODI series versus England on Thursday, 6 February.
Shubman Gill’s composed 87, Shreyas Iyer’s aggressive 59, Axar Patel’s 52 and a comprehensive bowling performance from Ravindra Jadeja and newcomer Harshit Rana were some of the numerous positives for India at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
It was India’s first ODI win since December 2023 as well. The World Cup finalists were defeated in the only ODI series they contested in Sri Lanka last year, losing 2-0.
Even without Virat Kohli, who skipped the first match due to a knee injury, India’s pursuit was effortless and mostly straightforward.
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Competing in his hometown, Rohit Sharma seemed unusually flustered while speaking to the media on Wednesday, bringing some nervous energy onto the field as he began India’s pursuit of 249 runs.
Rohit appeared uneasy from the beginning, having difficulty hitting the ball properly. Ultimately, he executed a careless shot against fast bowler Saqib Mahmood, getting dismissed for merely 2 runs in the sixth over after confronting just seven balls.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s debut ODI inning turned out to rather brief, with the young opener showing potential in his 22-ball innings of 15 before being dismissed by an excellent delivery from Jofra Archer.
Prior to the Champions Trophy, Gill was appointed as India’s ODI vice-captain, and Yashasvi Jaiswal joined the squad, increasing the competition for the top-order positions. However, with his confident 87 on Thursday, Gill solidified his position as India’s preferred opener when Kohli reenters the XI—potentially in the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday.
