In the first ODI between India and England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Shubman Gill showed incredible team spirit and selflessness by sacrificing his usual opening slot for debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal. Moving down to No. 3, Gill played a crucial role in India’s four-wicket victory, scoring a well-crafted 87 off 96 balls as the hosts chased down a target of 249 with 68 balls to spare.
India’s chase got off to a rocky start as they lost both openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma, with only 19 runs on the board. However, Gill and Shreyas Iyer counter-attacked with a brilliant 94-run partnership, coming off just 64 balls. Iyer, in particular, was the more aggressive of the two, while Gill played a calm and measured knock, content to anchor the innings.
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After Shreyas Iyer was dismissed for 59 off 36 balls, Gill continued to anchor the chase and formed another key partnership, this time with Axar Patel. Together, they added 108 runs, with Patel scoring 52 off 47 balls. As the target came closer, Gill, eyeing a well-deserved century, took a few risks but fell short, getting out for 87.
We had a term in the team ‘Lambi race ka Ghoda’ for certain players. Meaning someone who will be around for a long time in Indian cricket. That’s what Shubman Gill is! 🙌🙌
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 6, 2025
With 14 runs still required for victory, the task was comfortably completed by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, guiding India home with ease. After the match, former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Gill’s performance, likening him to a “Lambi race ka Ghoda” – a term used for players who are expected to have a long and successful career in Indian cricket.
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Sanjay Manjrekar also expressed confidence in Gill’s future, noting that he will be a staple in Indian cricket for years to come. Earlier in the day, England had started strong, with Phil Salt and Ben Duckett taking advantage of some loose Indian bowling. However, debutant Harshit Rana, who had a tough start, was quick to recover, dismissing Duckett and Harry Brook in consecutive overs.
Its never really about economy. Harshit Rana was the most expensive Indian bowler, but he got three crucial wickets and in many ways, sealed the game for India to win at the halfway stage. #INDvsENG
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 7, 2025
Harshit Rana’s third spell saw him remove the dangerous Liam Livingstone, and he ended with impressive figures of 3/53 in seven overs. Manjrekar, in his analysis, highlighted that economy rates often don’t tell the full story in ODI cricket, as crucial wickets, like those taken by Rana, can turn the tide in a team’s favour.
