Axar Patel performs well with both bat & ball in the 1st ODI vs England, strengthening his Champions Trophy starting spot case
The Indian Cricket Team, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma secured a convincing and a easy victory in the first match of the 3-match ODI series versus England in Nagpur and this win have allowed them to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Men in Blue were asked to chase down a target of 249 runs by the visitors and the Rohit Sharma-led team ended the match in 38.4 overs and won by a margin of six wickets.
Three Indian batters also successfully crossed the 50 runs mark in the first ODI and overall, the performance of the team was really good. Shubman Gill was the top scorer of the team in the first match, playing a good knock of 87 runs in 96 balls with the help of 14 fours. Shreyas Iyer also contributed in a good manner as he played an explosive knock of 59 runs in just 36 deliveries with the help of nine fours and two big maximums and his explosive batting turned the match in the favor of the Indian Team.
Axar Patel played a brilliant knock with the bat ahead of Champions Trophy 2025
Spin bowling all-round Axar Patel also played a key role in helping the 2023 ODI World Cup runners-up end the first ODI on a victorious note. He played a phenomenal knock of 52 runs in 47 balls which consisted of six fours and a six and the Indian team management would be happy to see him contribute with the bat in a meaningful manner ahead of Champions Trophy 2025. He also picked up a wicket with the ball in this match.
Axar Patel creating an impact with both bat & ball is a good sign for the Men in Blue as his presence in the playing 11 can provide some much needed batting depth to the Rohit Sharma-led team in the forthcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
At the same time, with this amazing all-round display in the first One-Day International versus the Three Lions, Patel has strengthened his case of securing a starting spot before the start of this year's marquee event. With the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Hardik Pandya present in the squad as well, competition will be fierce between all of these players for securing those all-rounder spots in the team.
Talking about the match, Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to bat first in the sunny afternoon of Nagpur. The visitors got off to a dashing start thanks to Phil Salt as they were sitting comfortably at a score of 74-0 but, due to an unfortunate miscommunication in running between the wickets, Salt got dismissed and went back to pavilion in the ninth over after playing a good knock of 45 runs.
Following his dismissal, things started to become uneasy for the tourists and they lost wickets in quick succession as the Englishmen were restricted to a score of 77-3 after the conclusion of the powerplay.
Skipper Jos Buttler and young batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell scored fifties and tried to steady the innings of England but eventually, they got dismissed and things became even more difficult for the visitors. The Three Lions got all out for a score of 248 runs in 47.4 overs and in this way, the Indian team had a target of 249 runs to win.
Rohit Sharma & CO achieved the target in 38.4 overs for 6 wickets. However, the Indian team did not have a good start. Opening batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma returned to the pavilion cheaply. But after this, thanks to Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel, the Indian team had no problem in reaching the target.
Do Read: Gill, Iyer Starred as INDIA won the First ODI! IND vs ENG 1st ODI Match Review
