England vs India: Hits and Misses: 1st ODI

Image result for kuldeep yadav

The first match of the England vs India series saw India cruising past England and winning the match on a canter. It started with Virat Kohli winning the toss and putting England to bat.

English openers started well with Roy and Bairstow scoring 70 runs in the powerplay. It was again the magic of Kuldeep Yadav that derailed the England top order and ended up picking 6 wickets for just 25 runs.

For England, Butler and Stokes showed some resistance but couldn’t help England post a winning total as England bundled out for just 268 runs unable to play out even their 50 overs.

Dhawan started India’s reply with a quick fiery knock of 40 runs but was caught at point off Moeen Ali. After that, it was all about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli who shared another century partnership between them. The partnership almost saw India through before Virat Kohli got stumped after scoring a classy knock of 75 runs.

From there on Rohit Sharma continued and steered India through with a very elegant and stylish century, thus gifting India a win with 59 balls to spare.

Amidst such a dominating performance by India, let us have a look at some of the hits and misses from the game.


#1 Hit: Kuldeep Yadav

It was again the mystery of Kuldeep Yadav, the young left-arm wrist spinner that continued to bamboozle the English batsman. Picking away 6 wickets in his 10 overs at the expense of just 25 runs, Kuldeep recorded the 4th best figures by an Indian in ODI cricket. It was also Kuldeep’s career-best figures.

England seemed to have no answers to this magical wrist spin as they seemed all at bay against it. They were going on nicely before the introduction of Kuldeep, but as soon as that happened the Englishmen lost their way.

The young wrist spinner immediately made his impact felt as he took 3 wickets in his first 2 overs. He later came on to dismiss the set batsmen in the form of Jos Butler and Ben Stokes and also ended up recording the best ODI figures by a spinner against England in England.

England needs to find a way to tackle this wrist spin magic otherwise the possibility of them winning this series seems bleak.

#2 Miss: Joe Root

Image result for joe root odi

One among the best four batsmen in cricket at the moment, Joe Root, England’s test skipper had some questions to answer. His recent form in the white ball format has not been very good due to which he was excluded from the side in the third T20I.

Root had his chance in this ODI as Alex Hales got injured due to a side strain. After a good start by the openers, Root came in at No. 3 but was not able to make any impact as he misread the length of a Kuldeep Yadav’s delivery and was given out LBW, scoring just 3 runs.

Joe Root, England’s best batsmen against spin, on paper, has failed miserably till now. Seeing a batsman of such high stature struggling to make runs is not very pleasing. Root has to make amends in the coming matches otherwise his place in this England’s strong batting line up might be at stake.

#3 Hit: Jos Butler

Image result for jos butler

One English batsman, who has had all the answers to whatever has been thrown at him, is Jos Butler. He just never fails to make an impact. In today’s match, he came in at a very tricky situation. England had lost 3 wickets in succession and India’s wrist spinners were on fire.

Butler played his natural game and scored at a strike rate of above 100. He was quick to latch onto the poor balls and played some of the most gorgeous drives along the cover region.

His partnership with Butler helped England recover from the shock that Kuldeep gave them earlier in the innings. He had an unlucky dismissal as he inside edged a down the leg side ball to the keeper.

Butler’s crucial 53 of just 51 balls helped England post a decent total on the scoreboard to defend. He was definitely a hit among this poor batting performance from England.

#4 Miss: Mark Wood

Image result for mark wood

England’s most successful limited overs bowler, Mark Wood, had had quite an off day in the first ODI of the series. He leaked away 55 runs in just the 6 overs he bowled.

Wood started off nicely when he beat the outside edge of Rohit Sharma twice in the first over but had no clue when Shikhar Dhawan took a liking at him. He seemed completely lost and was put under pressure by the Indian openers from the very GO.

In his return spell too, the set duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli smashed him all around the park.

Wood is England’s ace pacer and has an important role to play for England if they are to stop this very strong looking Indian top order.

#5 Hit: Rohit Sharma

Image result for rohit sharma

He smashed them in the 3rd T20I and he smashed them again in the 1st ODI. Such has been the return of Rohit Sharma’s form that England bowlers seem clueless as to what to bowl to him.

Rohit was in full flow as he scored his 18th ODI century and his first against England in ODI cricket. He toyed with England bowlers especially the spinning duo of Adil Rashid and Mooen Ali and lofted them for some huge sixes.

Hitman completed his century with a six of just 84 balls. His innings was full of class and style. He steered India through and stayed till the end scoring 137 of just 114 balls.

Rohit, being in such good form is a very ominous site for the Indian team and more threatening for the English side.


Do you think India will win the series? Let us know in the comments section below!

Check RCB Squad 2024 Details. Follow Sportskeeda for IPL 2024 Live Score, Schedule, Points Table

Quick Links

Edited by Kishan Prasad