In a thrilling start to the first ODI against India, England raced to a commendable 75 runs before Phil Salt was controversially run out for 43 runs. The mix-up occurred when Ben Duckett sent Salt back, leaving him stranded halfway down the pitch, and KL Rahul swiftly completed the run-out. Former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Kevin Pietersen expressed their disbelief over the incident, highlighting the disappointment in the dressing room.
Despite this setback, England managed to post a total of 248 runs, bolstered by contributions from Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell, who both scored half-centuries. However, the loss of Salt proved costly, as the team struggled to build momentum. Debutant Harshit Rana excelled with the ball for India, claiming three wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami also made crucial contributions in dismantling the English batting lineup.
In response, India successfully chased down the target, led by Shubman Gill, who scored 87 runs, and Shreyas Iyer, who made a brisk 59. The pair’s partnerships were instrumental in clinching a four-wicket victory. With this win, India takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, heading into the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday.