India ended a difficult UK tour on a winning note for the first time in 19 days. Shubman Gill led from the front with a fluent 80 before retiring hurt, and Axar Patel’s all-round effort powered India to a six-wicket win over England in the first ODI at Edgbaston on July 14.
1st ODI.India Won by 6 Wickets. https://t.co/2sg194tpxH #TeamIndia #ENGvIND # 1stODI
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 14, 2026
The win came after India lost the T20I series 4-0 on the same tour, a run that included India’s biggest T20I defeat. The ODI squad looked different. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah returned. But it was not the stars who decided this match. India Women had just claimed a historic Test win at Lord’s 24 hours earlier now the men added their own chapter in Birmingham.
England won the toss and chose to bat on a good Edgbaston surface. Openers Ben Duckett (45) and Jacob Bethell (14) gave England a steady start. Gurnoor Brar broke the partnership with a double strike in the 13th over, removing both openers. Prasidh Krishna then dismissed Jos Buttler (5) and Sam Curran (0) in quick succession.
At 93 for 5, England were in trouble.
Joe Root held one end together with an unbeaten 76 off 76 balls. Liam Dawson supported with 68. But Axar Patel was the difference with the ball. He finished with 4 for 62, his career-best figures in ODIs, dismissing Dawson, Jofra Archer (12), Adil Rashid and Josh Tongue in a decisive spell. England were all out for 258.
India’s chase looked straightforward on paper. It was anything but.
Shubman Gill started confidently, hitting boundaries at will. Rohit Sharma fell early for 11, caught off Sam Curran. Virat Kohli walked out to loud cheers from the Birmingham crowd but lasted only five balls Jofra Archer trapped him LBW. Shreyas Iyer was run out by Harry Brook. KL Rahul was dismissed by Josh Tongue for a duck.
India were 4 down with their biggest names back in the dressing room.
Insider Read:
This is the moment where the dressing room goes quiet. When Kohli, Rohit and Rahul are walking back in quick succession, the younger players at the crease feel the shift. But here is the truth that is hard to see from outside: when the stars have failed, the pressure actually drops for those still out there. Nobody expects you to win from that position. You are playing for pride, not expectation. And that freedom the freedom of having nothing left to lose is often when Indian middle-order players bat their best. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar did not just survive. They attacked because the weight of the stadium had already lifted off their shoulders.
Gill reached his half-century and looked set for a big score. Then cramps forced him to retire hurt on 80. Washington Sundar walked in at a difficult moment with India still needing over 100 runs.
What followed was the turning point of the match.
Axar Patel and Washington Sundar added over 100 runs for the fifth wicket. Both scored unbeaten half-centuries Axar 57 off 52, Sundar 52 off 63. They did not just chase the target. They dominated. India reached 262 for 4 in 45.2 overs, winning with 28 balls to spare.
“Sundar (52*) and Axar (57*) this will give us confidence as a middle-order unit.”
Shubman Gill, post-match presentation, July 14, 2026
Axar Patel was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance 4 for 62 and 57 not out.
“Even if we had a target of 300-320, we would have gone for it. The belief in the dressing room is high.”
Shubman Gill, post-match, July 14, 2026
India now lead the three-match series 1-0. The second ODI is in Cardiff on July 16, where Brydon Carse’s return from injury could reshape England’s bowling options.
Sources:
- BCCI, X (Twitter), July 14, 2026 X
