Gill performs a shot in the course of the first ODI towards England.
| Photograph Credit score: Ok.R. DEEPAK
Shubman Gill (87, 96b, 14×4) and Shreyas Iyer (59, 36b, 9×4, 2×6) ensured India kickstarted its ICC Champions Trophy preparation on the proper be aware, guiding the facet to a cushty four-wicket win over England within the first one-day worldwide on the VCA Stadium right here on Thursday.
In entrance of a packed home, the duo placed on a stellar show of free-flowing strokeplay, sending the English bowlers on a leather-based hunt. Their 94-run alliance off 64 balls for the third wicket ensured the host chased down a goal of 249 within the thirty ninth over.
Earlier, a disciplined bowling efficiency led by debutant pacer Harshit Rana (three for 53) and Ravindra Jadeja (three for 26) – enjoying his first ODI since November 2023 – helped the house group bundle England out for 248.
In reply, India began poorly when Yashasvi Jaiswal, making his debut and skipper Rohit Sharma, fell cheaply.
Nonetheless, Shreyas got here out weapons blazing and took on the English pacers who tried to pepper him with short-pitched deliveries. After flicking Saqib Mahmood to get going, the Mumbai batter pulled and ramped Jofra Archer for consecutive maximums to sign his intentions within the seventh over.
The 30-year-old then carved Brydon Carse for 3 boundaries, two by means of sq. on the off-side, adopted by an beautiful cowl drive to assist his facet race to 71 for 2 in 10 overs.
On the different finish, Gill was to not be left behind and punished the English pacers’ unidimensional plan of making an attempt to bang it briefly by deploying his trademark short-arm jab pulls with none threat.
Shreyas introduced up his half-century in fashion by sweeping left-arm spinner Jacob Bethell to the fence off simply 30 balls. Later, Axar Patel ensured the momentum was not misplaced and took on the spinners from the get-go. The left-hander swept, lower and went inside-out en route his fast half-century. Within the twenty ninth over, when Axar and Gill every collected a brace of boundaries off Carse to take India previous 200, the match was just about finished and dusted.
Earlier, England elected to bat and acquired off to a flyer within the PowerPlay when Phil Salt went after Harshit. He welcomed the 23-year-old by hitting him for 2 boundaries in his first over after which smashed the teenager for 3 sixes and two fours in a 26-run sixth over.
However towards the run of play, Salt was run out, giving a gap for Rohit’s males. Harshit got here again strongly, backing his energy of bowling into the pitch and troubled the batters together with his bounce to select two wickets within the tenth over.
He first had Duckett top-edging a pull to Jaiswal after which dismissed Harry Brook caught down the leg-side, making an attempt to fend a well-directed, short-pitched supply into the physique.
Skipper Jos Buttler (52) performed inside himself with out making an attempt something extravagant to maintain the innings on monitor. As soon as he was dismissed, England’s innings fell aside as Harshit, Jadeja, and Shami ran by means of the lower-order.
Although India stuttered in direction of the end line, the Males in Blue can be happy with a medical efficiency.
Printed – February 06, 2025 10:23 pm IST
