New Delhi: Although Virat Kohli wasn’t part of the playing XI due to a knee issue in his right leg, it didn’t stop him from celebrating India’s impressive four-wicket win over England in the first ODI at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The 36-year-old batting legend was spotted smiling and cheering with Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya as India secured a vital 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
As Team India kicks off their 2025 Champions Trophy preparations on a positive note, the bond between Kohli, Jadeja, and Pandya was a heartening sight. Their camaraderie brought back memories of Indian youngsters enjoying similar playful moments on the field, prompting Rohit Sharma to humorously refer to them as “garden me ghoomne waale ladke.”
Although Kohli’s absence was noticeable, India’s newly-appointed vice-captain, Shubman Gill, played a key role in keeping the chase on course with a steady 87 off 96 balls.
With India struggling at 19/2 while chasing 249, Gill anchored the innings through two important partnerships. He first partnered with Shreyas Iyer (59) and then formed another vital stand with Axar Patel (52), guiding India to a comfortable victory with 11.2 overs to spare.
Despite England’s early breakthroughs, India’s batting depth proved crucial in the chase. The team will be hopeful for Kohli’s swift recovery to strengthen their batting lineup for the second ODI, scheduled for Sunday. However, it will be intriguing to see who Kohli replaces in the team. Shreyas Iyer revealed after the match on Thursday that he played in the first ODI because Kohli was unavailable – a comment that sparked surprising reactions from both experts and fans.
Harshit Rana Shines on Debut
India’s bowling attack set the tone for the win, effectively limiting England to a modest total of 248. Debutant Harshit Rana had a dream start to his ODI career, picking up three key wickets—Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone—proving his ability to challenge top-order batters on the big stage.
Solid Bowling Performance
Mohammed Shami, making his return to the ODI setup, took the wicket of Brydon Carse. Spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav each contributed with a wicket, but the standout performance came from the ever-reliable Ravindra Jadeja, who dismantled England’s middle order with a brilliant 3/26 in his nine-over spell.
India will look to carry this momentum into the second ODI, where Kohli’s fitness will remain a key talking point.
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