After a disastrous T20I campaign that saw India whitewashed by Ireland and England, the return of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli brought a sense of stability and experience to the Indian dressing room.[reference:15] This was the first time the trio of Rohit, Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah had played together in a 50-over international for 968 days.[reference:16]

England captain Harry Brook won the toss and elected to bat first on what he thought was a “pristine Edgbaston batting track.”[reference:17][reference:18] However, India’s bowlers had other plans. The decision to field an extra batting cushion at No. 8, with Washington Sundar ahead of Shivam Dube, once again dictated Gautam Gambhir’s playing XI template.[reference:19]

India went with four pace-bowling options — Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and Shivam Dube — and two spinners in Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.[reference:20] The decision to bench Kuldeep Yadav drew scrutiny from experts, with former India pacer Varun Aaron questioning the move.[reference:21]

England’s innings was a tale of two halves. Openers Ben Duckett (43 off 45) and Jacob Bethell (14 off 31) added 61 runs, but India’s pace attack struck back ruthlessly.[reference:22][reference:23]

Gurnoor Brar dismissed both openers in quick succession, while Jasprit Bumrah produced a moment of magic — dismissing Harry Brook with the first ball of his second spell.[reference:24][reference:25] Prasidh Krishna then removed Jos Buttler and Sam Curran in the same over, reducing England to a staggering 80/5 inside 17 overs.[reference:26] Will Jacks fell soon after to a stunning one-handed catch by KL Rahul, leaving England at 107/6.[reference:27]

Then came the rescue act. Joe Root, who survived a dropped catch on 7 by Shivam Dube, and Liam Dawson added an unbroken 121 runs for the seventh wicket.[reference:28][reference:29] Root finished unbeaten on 76 off 76 balls — his 66th fifty-plus score in ODIs.[reference:30][reference:31] Dawson scored a career-best 68 off 83 deliveries.[reference:32] England were eventually bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs.[reference:33]

India’s chase of 259 began with high hopes as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to the lineup. However, the veterans failed to deliver. Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 11, while Virat Kohli managed just 5 as India slipped to 48/2.[reference:34][reference:35]

Captain Shubman Gill then took charge. He continued his love affair with Edgbaston, where he had scored 269 and 161 during India’s Test win last year.[reference:36] Gill struck 11 fours and a six in his 75-ball 80, adding 101 runs with vice-captain Shreyas Iyer (35) for the third wicket.[reference:37][reference:38] However, physical discomfort — calf cramps followed by a hamstring problem — forced him to retire hurt.[reference:39]

England sensed an opening. Shreyas Iyer was run out, and KL Rahul was bowled by Josh Tongue, leaving India at 160/4.[reference:40][reference:41] Then came the partnership that sealed the victory. Axar Patel (57* off 52) and Washington Sundar (52* off 63) added an unbroken 102-run stand for the fifth wicket.[reference:42] The pair handled Jofra Archer’s pace and rotated strike well against England’s spinners to complete the chase in 45.2 overs.[reference:43]

Axar, who had struggled for runs during the T20I series, was named Player of the Match for his all-round display.[reference:44]

The return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah was the biggest talking point heading into the match.[reference:53] While Bumrah delivered with the ball, the two batting stalwarts failed to make an impact.

Jasprit Bumrah: The pace spearhead was India’s most economical bowler, finishing with figures of 1/31 in 9 overs.[reference:54] He dismissed Harry Brook with a slower delivery that climbed on the England captain, and in doing so, became the third-fastest Indian to reach 150 ODI wickets.[reference:55] He also became India’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs on English soil.[reference:56]

Rohit Sharma: The veteran opener managed just 11 off 18 balls before being caught off Josh Tongue.[reference:57] His dismissal in the 8th over put early pressure on India’s chase.

Virat Kohli: Kohli’s return to ODI cricket after missing the Afghanistan series due to injury was short-lived.[reference:58] He was dismissed for 5, caught behind off Tongue.[reference:59]

Despite the failures, the trio’s presence brought stability to the dressing room. As The Indian Express noted, their return brought “a sense of stability and experience to the Indian dressing room” after the T20I disasters.[reference:60]

The decision to bench Kuldeep Yadav for the first ODI drew sharp criticism from experts.[reference:61] India went with four pace-bowling options and two spinners in Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, leaving the wrist-spinner out of the XI.[reference:62]

While the pace attack rattled England early, reducing them to 80/5, the lack of a genuine wicket-taking spinner in the middle overs proved costly.[reference:63] Joe Root and Liam Dawson capitalised on the absence of a specialist spinner, stitching a 121-run stand that swung the momentum.[reference:64]

Former India fast bowler Varun Aaron was scathing in his criticism: “India has Kuldeep Yadav. Axar Patel is bowling arm balls into the batter and bowling all those sliders. You have to play around with your speeds and the seam position to get something out of the wicket. The English batters are setting up to play Axar as an off-spinner. It is very obvious he is not going to turn the ball past the batter. How do you get wickets in the middle overs? Jasprit Bumrah cannot be your answer to all your problems.”[reference:65][reference:66]

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar offered a different perspective: “Well, Varun sometimes, he (Bumrah) is the answer to everything. Sometimes, the problem of having Bumrah is you always know and hope he’s the one to get you those answers.”[reference:67][reference:68]

India have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series after the first match in Birmingham.[reference:73] The second ODI will be played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday, July 16.[reference:74]

England will be looking to bounce back and level the series. India, meanwhile, will be hoping to seal the series with another clinical performance. The match will be crucial for both sides as they build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup.