India beat England by six wickets as Axar Patel shines

India secured a commanding six-wicket victory over England in the first one-day international at Edgbaston on July 14, 2026, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The win was powered by a decisive all-round performance from left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who claimed career-best bowling figures before steering a tricky chase with an unbeaten half-century.

Chasing a target of 259, India’s innings faced early turbulence as openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fell cheaply. Captain Shubman Gill stabilized the innings with a fluent 80 but was forced to retire hurt due to cramps, leaving the team at 160 for four. Axar Patel, who had already made a significant impact with the ball, walked in at this crucial juncture. He adopted a measured approach, focusing on building a partnership rather than aggressive hitting. His composed, unbeaten 57 from 52 balls, combined with Washington Sundar’s steady 52 not out, guided India to victory with 28 balls to spare. The pair shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 102 runs.

Earlier, after England chose to bat, the hosts had recovered from a precarious 80 for five through a 121-run partnership between Joe Root (76) and Liam Dawson (68). Axar...