Shubman Gill Hails Middle Order as India Secures Victory Over England in First ODI

In the first ODI at Edgbaston, India secured a six-wicket victory over England, with captain Shubman Gill praising the middle order's performance. Gill emphasized the confidence gained from the batting unit's success and discussed the team's strategy and preparations for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. The match saw significant contributions from Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, leading India to a comfortable win. This victory also marked India's sixth consecutive ODI win against England, showcasing their dominance in the format.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2026, 00:47 IST

India's Impressive Win at Edgbaston

In a thrilling encounter at Edgbaston, India triumphed over England by six wickets in the first ODI, with captain Shubman Gill commending his team's middle order for their pivotal role in the victory. Gill expressed that the performance not only boosts the batting lineup's confidence but also strengthens the leadership group.

During the post-match presentation, Gill highlighted the experience of India's batting order, which allowed them to confidently choose to bowl first, despite having a relatively inexperienced bowling attack.

Gill remarked, "Seeing our middle and lower order contribute significantly and finish the game instills a lot of confidence in me as a captain and as a top-order batsman."

He elaborated on the toss decision, stating it was influenced more by the team's composition than the pitch conditions.

"Our bowling attack is relatively young, so we felt our batting experience would be advantageous. We were prepared to chase any target, even if it was 320," he added.

The Indian captain praised the bowling performance during the middle overs, calling it a highlight of their win. He noted, "Our bowling in the middle overs was commendable. We started strong in the first six or seven overs, and although England scored a bit towards the end of the powerplay, our ability to take five wickets was crucial."

Gill mentioned that the ongoing series serves as a platform for experimenting with different combinations in preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

"We are exploring various combinations to determine which setup provides us with the best balance in both batting and bowling," he explained.

He also pointed out that the conditions in England are beneficial for their preparations for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, stating, "The pitch and conditions here are somewhat reminiscent of South Africa. The new ball posed challenges for the batsmen, but the pitch settled well. Testing different combinations on such wickets will be advantageous for us."

India's victory in the first ODI gives them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing a target of 259, Gill scored a solid 80 before retiring due to injury, while Axar Patel (57*), Washington Sundar (52*), and Shreyas Iyer (35) played crucial roles in the chase.

The unbeaten partnership of 102 runs between Patel and Sundar ensured the win with over four overs remaining. Axar, who also took four wickets, was awarded Player of the Match.

For England, Joe Root (76*) and Liam Dawson (68) were the standout performers, while India's Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar each claimed two wickets. This victory marks India's sixth consecutive ODI win against England and their first ODI defeat at Edgbaston since 2015.