Axar Patel shone with both bat and ball as India secured a six-wicket victory over England in the opening ODI at Edgbaston. Axar’s impressive performance included taking four wickets to restrict England to 258 runs and then contributing an unbeaten 57 runs alongside Washington Sundar in a crucial 102-run partnership.
India’s disciplined pace attack troubled England from the start, leading to a collapse from 61 for no loss to 80 for five. However, a resilient partnership between Joe Root and Liam Dawson, worth 121 runs, helped England recover. Despite Dawson’s solid 68 and Root’s unbeaten 76, England was bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs.
In response, India’s chase began steadily with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill laying a solid foundation. Gill’s confident half-century and a crucial 101-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer shifted the momentum in India’s favor. Although Gill retired hurt on 80, Axar and Washington Sundar’s composed 102-run stand guided India to victory with Sundar hitting the winning runs to seal the match.
