India claimed a decisive six-wicket victory over England in the first ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday, marking the team's first win of their ongoing United Kingdom tour. Chasing a target of 259, India overcame early losses of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to reach the total in 45.2 overs. The win provides a significant boost for the visitors, who had previously struggled during the T20I series.
Captain Shubman Gill anchored the Indian response with a fluent 80 off 75 balls, continuing his strong record at the Birmingham venue. Gill’s innings, which included 11 fours and a six, was cut short when he was forced to retire hurt due to calf and hamstring discomfort. Despite his exit, the middle order maintained the momentum, with Shreyas Iyer contributing 35 runs.
England’s innings had earlier been stabilized by Joe Root and Liam Dawson, who combined for a 121-run partnership after the hosts had slipped to 107 for six. Their efforts helped England post a total of 258. Axar Patel was the standout performer for India with the ball, claiming four wickets for 62 runs to keep the English scoring in check.
Following Gill's departure, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar steered the chase to completion. The pair built an unbroken 102-run partnership, with Patel scoring an unbeaten 57 and Sundar finishing on 52 not out. Their composure under pressure ensured India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, providing a much-needed morale lift for the squad.