Gill, Shreyas, Axar hit fifties; debutant Rana, Jadeja dazzle with ball
Nagpur: Vice-captain Shubman Gill orchestrated India’s chase with grace, while debutant Harshit Rana dazzled with the ball as the hosts registered a four-wicket win against England in the series opener here on Thursday.
Gill (87), Shreyas Iyer (59), and Axar Patel (52) rose to the occasion, guiding India to a commanding chase after Rana (3/53 from 7 overs) and the seasoned left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3/26 from 9) shared six wickets between them, dismantling England for a below-par 248.
Rana’s fourth over, which claimed the twin wickets of Ben Duckett and Harry Brook, decisively stifled the England innings, putting India firmly in control as the visitors never managed to rebuild despite fifties by skipper Jos Buttler (52) and Jack Bethell (51).
After England’s aggressive start, which saw Phil Salt (43) smashing Rana for 26 runs in a single over, the Indian bowlers regrouped. Axar Patel was introduced to stem the flow of runs, and Shreyas Iyer’s direct hit to dismiss Salt shifted the momentum. Rana’s second spell proved crucial, as he removed Duckett and Brook, turning the tide in India’s favour. Both Duckett and Brook fell to exceptional fielding efforts, with Yashasvi Jaiswal producing a stunning catch running back from midwicket, and Rana forcing Brook to edge behind to Rahul.
The early wickets put England on the backfoot, and despite a resilient knock from Buttler, India continued to apply pressure. Jadeja’s mastery was evident as he dismissed Joe Root (7), trapping him LBW, while Buttler’s steady innings came to an end when he was dismissed by Axar Patel, caught at short fine leg by Hardik Pandya. With wickets continuing to fall, Bethell’s defiant 51 was England’s final stand, but Jadeja finally got the better of him with a clever LBW delivery, leaving England’s innings in tatters.
Chasing a relatively low target of 249, India’s response was led by Gill, who played with composure throughout the chase. After India lost early wickets, including that of Rohit Sharma, Gill steadied the ship alongside Shreyas Iyer. Iyer’s quick-fire 59, which included back-to-back sixes, played a crucial role in lifting India’s run rate, with Gill anchoring the innings.
Once Iyer was dismissed, Gill took full control, maintaining a steady tempo and ensuring India stayed on track. His 87 runs came with 14 fours, showing a blend of aggression and responsibility.
Axar Patel was promoted up the order and provided valuable support to Gill, contributing with a timely fifty. England managed to take a few wickets toward the end, but India comfortably completed the chase with 68 balls remaining, securing a comprehensive win. This victory was a result of disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and composed batting, putting India in a commanding position for the rest of the series.
