Axar Patel delivered a masterclass in all-round cricket as India beats England ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday. The Indian star took four crucial wickets with the ball before remaining unbeaten on 57 with the bat. Therefore, India secured a dominant six-wicket victory in the opening match of the three-game series.
England opted to bat first and made a lightning start. Openers Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell added 61 runs for the first wicket. However, the hosts then suffered a spectacular collapse. Six wickets fell for just 46 runs, tumbling England to 107-6. Suddenly, the match shifted completely.
Joe Root and Liam Dawson steadied the ship with resilient half-centuries. Root finished unbeaten on 76 off exactly 100 deliveries. His knock featured six fours and a six struck with precision. Meanwhile, Dawson made 68 from 83 balls, including six fours and one maximum. As a result, England rebuilt to 258 all out in 47.5 overs.
Duckett contributed 43 from 45 balls before departing. Will Jacks scored 20 off 19 deliveries with three boundaries. Bethell managed 14 from 31 balls. Captain Harry Brook fell for just one. Moreover, Jos Buttler managed only five from 14 deliveries, struggling against the Indian attack.
Axar Patel’s bowling proved absolutely devastating. He claimed 4/62 from 9.5 overs with menacing accuracy. Gurnoor Brar and Prasidh Krishna took two wickets each. Additionally, Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube claimed one scalp apiece. Therefore, India’s bowling attack functioned like a well-oiled machine throughout England’s innings.
India’s chase never wavered despite the 259-run target. Shubman Gill led from the front with a composed 80 from 75 deliveries. His innings featured 11 fours and one six struck with authority. Gill later retired hurt but had already done the job. Furthermore, his batting provided the blueprint for the successful chase.
Axar Patel continued his dominance with an unbeaten 57 from 52 balls. He struck five fours and one six. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar added a valuable 52 from 63 deliveries, including four boundaries and one maximum. Still, the partnership between Gill and Axar proved decisive in the chase.
Shreyas Iyer chipped in with 35 from 53 balls. Rohit Sharma scored 11 while Virat Kohli managed five. As a result, India accumulated 262-4 in 45.2 overs, cruising past England’s total.
England’s bowlers could not replicate their batting lineup’s resilience. Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, and Sam Curran each claimed one wicket. However, the remaining bowlers found nothing to exploit. Therefore, the India beats England ODI result never hung in doubt once Gill and Axar got going.
This victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the series. The second ODI will reveal whether England can bounce back or if India’s momentum proves too strong. Finally, Axar Patel’s performance will be remembered as the centerpiece of the India beats England ODI triumph.
