Shubman Gill stars with bat as India sink England in ODI opener

Chasing a target of 249 in the absence of Virat Kohli, who was sidelined due to a sore right knee, India struggled early with the loss of both openers. However, Shreyas Iyer, who scored 59, launched a counterattack, putting together a 94-run partnership with Gill, who contributed 87 runs, as India reached their target with 11.2 overs to spare.

This ODI series serves as a warm-up for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

Gill also formed a crucial 108-run partnership with Axar Patel, who was promoted up the order and scored 52, continuing India's dominant momentum after their impressive 4-1 win in the preceding T20I series.

England did manage to secure some late wickets, with fast bowler Saqib Mahmood and leg-spinner Adil Rashid each taking two wickets, preventing Gill from reaching a century and providing some positives in what was otherwise a comfortable chase for India.

India's bowlers were instrumental in setting up the victory, with debutant Harshit Rana and spinner Ravindra Jadeja claiming three wickets each to help dismiss England for 248 in 47.4 overs.

England's opening bowlers came out aggressively in an attempt to defend the low total, with Jofra Archer dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was making his ODI debut, caught behind for 15 runs.

Rohit Sharma, struggling with form, fell cheaply for two runs, caught by Liam Livingstone off Mahmood's delivery. The Indian captain, who has struggled throughout the 2024-25 season, left the field to a stunned silence, leaving India at a precarious 19-2.

Iyer, however, seized the initiative with a flurry of boundaries, reaching his fifty off just 30 balls, much to the delight of the home crowd. Jacob Bethell eventually trapped Iyer lbw after his blistering 36-ball innings, which included nine fours and two sixes.

England chose to bat first on a hot afternoon but failed to build any significant partnerships, regularly losing wickets. Despite Jos Buttler's 52 and 51 from Bethell, England could not set a challenging total.

Phil Salt provided some entertainment with a quickfire 43, hitting three sixes and two fours in one over off Rana, but a mix-up with opener Ben Duckett led to his run out. Rana bounced back by removing Duckett (32) and Harry Brook (0) in the same over, leaving England at 77-3.

Buttler, along with Joe Root, who scored 19 on his ODI return, and Bethell, tried to steady the ship, but England's total was far from a competitive one.

The second ODI will take place on Sunday in Cuttack.

READ MORE: Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis makes shock retirement call with Champions Trophy looming