Thu Feb 06 18:16:54 UTC 2025: ## India Thrash England in Nagpur ODI Debut
**Nagpur, India:** India dominated England in the first ODI of their three-match series in Nagpur, securing a comfortable four-wicket victory with more than 11 overs to spare. While Shubman Gill narrowly missed a century, falling for 87, his impressive knock, along with crucial contributions from Axar Patel (52) and Shreyas Iyer (59), proved too much for the English side.
England, after a promising start, were bowled out for 248 in 47.4 overs. Jos Buttler (52) and Jacob Bethell (50) scored half-centuries, but their efforts were insufficient to counter India’s strong batting display. Debutant Harshit Rana and Ravindra Jadeja each claimed three wickets for India, disrupting England’s innings significantly. A run-out of Phil Salt and a double-wicket over from Rana early on exposed England’s fragility. The dismissal of Joe Root by Jadeja further hampered their recovery.
India’s chase began with early setbacks, losing Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal quickly. However, a blistering 94-run partnership between Gill and Iyer quickly turned the tide. Gill and Axar Patel then added a further 108 runs for the fourth wicket, effectively sealing the win despite a late collapse that saw India lose three wickets in a short period.
Despite the late wickets, India’s commanding lead ensured they reached the target with ease, handing England a resounding defeat in the opening match of the series. The win sets a positive tone for India as the series continues.
First Piper 