India’s senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma endured disappointing returns, but Axar Patel and Washington Sundar produced outstanding all-round performances to guide the Men in Blue to a memorable six-wicket victory over England in the opening ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday, July 14. The win handed India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and ended England’s impressive home dominance at the venue. Chasing 259, India suffered early setbacks as Rohit Sharma and Kohli were dismissed cheaply.

Captain Shubman Gill then steadied the innings with a fluent 80 off 75 deliveries before retiring hurt after experiencing discomfort in his right hamstring. His departure left India in a tricky position, especially after Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul were dismissed in quick succession. With pressure mounting, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel showcased remarkable composure to rescue India. The pair stitched together an unbeaten 102-run partnership for the seventh wicket, taking the game away from England with sensible shot selection and excellent strike rotation.

Sundar remained unbeaten on 52 from 63 balls, sealing the victory with a towering six off Adil Rashid, while Axar finished unbeaten on 57 from 52 deliveries in a superb all-round display. Sundar’s innings came at a crucial time, particularly after weeks of criticism over his continued selection across formats. Several former cricketers had questioned the team management’s faith in the spin-bowling all-rounder, but the 26-year-old answered his critics with a calm, mature knock under immense pressure.

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Axar, meanwhile, was India’s standout performer throughout the contest. Before starring with the bat, the left-arm spinner delivered a career-best ODI spell of 4/62, dismantling England’s middle and lower order after Joe Root and Liam Dawson had threatened to post a much bigger total.

Earlier, England appeared to be in control thanks to Root’s unbeaten 76 and Dawson’s gritty 68. However, Axar’s timely breakthroughs ensured the hosts were bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs despite a fighting 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket.For his match-winning contributions with both bat and ball, Axar Patel was deservedly named Player of the Match. Reflecting on India’s performance, the all-rounder admitted the victory was the perfect response after the team’s disappointing T20I tour.

“The way the T20 series went, this is the perfect start for us. I’m very happy with the way I performed today. My plan with the ball was to bowl stump-to-stump, vary my pace, and make it difficult for the batters. When I went out to bat, Washi was already there, and we focused on building a partnership because we knew we were ahead of the game,” Axar Patel said after receiving the award.

The victory also carried historical significance. India snapped England’s seven-match winning streak at Edgbaston in ODIs dating back to 2015. More importantly, it marked India’s sixth consecutive ODI victory over England, their longest-ever winning streak against the Three Lions in the 50-over format.

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After a forgettable T20I campaign, India’s all-round effort in Birmingham has provided the ideal start to their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar proving that the team’s depth could become one of its biggest strengths in the years ahead.