Axar Patel All-round performance powers India to go 1-0 up in ODI series

It has taken the better part of three weeks. But a tour of UK and Ireland that began 19 days ago in Belfast has finally seen India victorious, in Birmingham.

In the first one-day international at Edgbaston, the tourists prevailed by six wickets over England thanks to captain Shubman Gill's innings of 80 not out. Boasting a far more experienced line-up than the one that lost a T20I series 4-0, and had been bested by Ireland 2-0 , this was a show of nous and dominance, chasing down a lackluster target of 259 with 4.4 overs to spare.

Gill would have undoubtedly been there at the end had he not retired hurt due to cramps. He stated on BBC's Test Match Special that he anticipates being fit for Thursday's second ODI. Axar Patel's unbeaten 57 - accompanying 4 for 62 in the first innings - alongside Washington Sundar's 52* polished off the final 102 runs with such ease that Gill could at least relax with his feet up, and hammy on ice.

The defeat was England's 13th in 19 ODIs since the beginning of 2025. This one came when they were bowled out for 258 in the 48th over. Joe Root's 76 not out was the only thing that saved the hosts from being down to 107 for 6 in the innings. And even then, they were lucky given Root should have been dismissed for seven.

They were bowled out after batting first for the eighth time out of 12 times during the same time period. a period that began with Brendon McCullum taking on white-ball coaching responsibilities in addition to his Test obligations. He can at least focus on getting back to winning ways before next year's 50-over World Cup after being dropped from the red-ball role on Sunday. Provided he is still around for it, of course.

India also came into this match with their own problems to solve in international cricket's middle format off the back of three bilateral defeats in their last six. Jasprit Bumrah's incisiveness set the tone, despite only taking one wicket, despite the fact that the returning Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli offered little. The seam group led by Bumrah set the tone, accounting for six of the top seven positions before Axar lopped off the tail, even though Axar had the best figures with 4 for 62.

It was at Edgbaston last summer that Gill enjoyed his best performance of a hallmark Test series, with 269 and 161 in the second Test. After returning to those memories on Monday afternoon when he walked out to train on the outfield, it looked like he would stride off with another innings of substance to hang on his wall.

Sadly, Gill ended up limping away instead, assisted by India's physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain and 12th man Arshdeep Singh with just 109 to clear for victory. India's captain led the chase from the off, two boundaries off his first two balls setting the tone. The shot of the day was unquestionably Josh Tongue's stunned cover drive in the sixth over, three balls after a swivel-pull over sponge.

As he overcame Rohit and Kohli's fall, a 19th ODI fifty appeared very likely to be a 10th century. Rohit was dislodged by a surface cut and grip, and Sam Curran struck with his third ball to remove him and spoon a heave to Brook at midfield. And after receiving the loudest cheer of the day, Kohli was run out for five by Archer's relentless pace, the right-hander stepping across his stumps and getting hit in the shin with one. It was from this point, at 48 for 2, that Gill and Shreyas Iyer put on 101.