Axar Patel's all-round show steers India to 6-wicket win in 1st ODI vs England
Synopsis
Axar Patel did it with both bat and ball at Edgbaston — four wickets to restrict England to 258, then an unbeaten 57 in a 102-run stand with Washington Sundar to chase it down with 28 balls to spare. India's spin all-rounders bailed out a top order wobble and handed England a chastening defeat in the series opener.
Key Takeaways
India beat England by six wickets in the first ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 14 July , taking a 1-0 series lead.
Axar Patel claimed 4 for 62 and scored an unbeaten 57 , anchoring both the bowling and batting efforts.
Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 52 — his first ODI half-century — and hit the winning six.
Shubman Gill scored 80 before retiring hurt with cramps; Joe Root top-scored for England with an unbeaten 76 .
Gurnoor Brar triggered England's top-order collapse, taking two wickets in one over to reduce them from 61/0 to 80/5 .
India completed the chase of 259 in 45.2 overs , with 28 balls remaining.
Axar Patel delivered a commanding all-round performance — 4 wickets with the ball and an unbeaten 57 with the bat — as India defeated England by six wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday, 14 July, taking a 1-0 series lead. Washington Sundar's unbeaten 52 — his maiden ODI half-century — sealed the chase with a six, with 28 balls to spare.
England's Innings: Collapse, Recovery, and a 258 Total
After winning the toss and electing to bat, England made a bright start through Ben Duckett, who counter-attacked in the second half of the Powerplay. Duckett and Jacob Bethell put on 61 runs for the opening wicket before Gurnoor Brar dramatically shifted the contest, taking two wickets in a single over and triggering a stunning collapse — England slid from 61 for no loss to 80 for five within a handful of overs.
England's innings was rescued by a 121-run seventh-wicket partnership between Joe Root and Liam Dawson. Dawson contributed a solid 68 — his first ODI half-century — before being dismissed, while Root anchored the innings with an unbeaten 76. Axar then wrapped up the tail with clinical precision, claiming the final four wickets to finish with figures of 4 for 62. England were bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs.
India's Chase: Gill's Grit and a Spin-Twin Finish
India's reply began steadily, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill navigating the new-ball threat from Jofra Archer and ODI debutant Josh Tongue. The opening stand reached 43 before Sam Curran dismissed Rohit for 11. In the very next over, Archer trapped Virat Kohli lbw for just 5, putting India under early pressure at 2 wickets down.
Gill and Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with a fluent 101-run third-wicket stand. Gill looked composed and assured, reaching another classy half-century before cramps forced him to retire hurt on 80, despite repeated on-field treatment. England sensed an opportunity when Iyer was run out for 35 and KL Rahul departed cheaply for 1, leaving India needing composure at the death.
Axar and Sundar's Match-Winning Partnership
India's spin-bowling all-rounders quelled any late anxiety. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar combined for an unbroken 102-run fifth-wicket partnership, batting with remarkable calm to guide India home. Sundar struck the winning boundary over the ropes to complete his unbeaten 52 and India's 262 for 4 in 45.2 overs. Notably, this is the first time in the series that India's lower-middle order has been tested under pressure in England — and both players passed with distinction.
Brief Scores
England 258 all out in 47.5 overs (Joe Root 76*, Liam Dawson 68; Axar Patel 4-62, Prasidh Krishna 2-50) lost to India 262/4 in 45.2 overs (Shubman Gill 80 retired hurt, Axar Patel 57*; Josh Tongue 1-50, Sam Curran 1-55) by six wickets.
The second ODI of the three-match series is set to follow, with India holding the early advantage.
Point of View
Kohli for 5 — folded against Archer's movement, and Gill's retirement hurt exposed the middle order sooner than India would have liked. That Axar and Sundar, two spinners, bailed India out in overcast Birmingham is the real story. It also raises a tactical question for England: if their premier pacer can't capitalise on a two-wicket burst in the powerplay, how do they stop India's deep batting lineup from absorbing pressure?
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 1st ODI between India and England at Edgbaston?
India won the first ODI against England by six wickets at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 14 July, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. India chased down 259 in 45.2 overs with 28 balls to spare.
How did Axar Patel perform in the 1st ODI vs England?
Axar Patel was the standout performer with both bat and ball. He took 4 wickets for 62 runs to help dismiss England for 258, then scored an unbeaten 57 in a match-winning 102-run fifth-wicket partnership with Washington Sundar.
What happened to Shubman Gill during India's chase?
Shubman Gill scored a classy 80 but was forced to retire hurt due to cramps after receiving treatment multiple times on the field. His exit left India needing Axar Patel and Washington Sundar to finish the job.
What was Washington Sundar's contribution in the 1st ODI?
Washington Sundar scored an unbeaten 52 — his maiden ODI half-century — and partnered Axar Patel in an unbroken 102-run fifth-wicket stand. He hit the winning six to seal India's six-wicket victory.
How did England's innings unfold in the 1st ODI at Edgbaston?
England collapsed from 61 for no loss to 80 for five after Gurnoor Brar took two wickets in one over. A 121-run seventh-wicket recovery partnership between Joe Root (76*) and Liam Dawson (68) lifted them to 258 all out in 47.5 overs.
