IND vs ENG ODI | Optimistic indicators for India however a couple of chinks within the armour stay

Want for pace: Pacer Harshit’s efficiency, particularly with the uncertainty over Bumrah’s availability, bodes properly for the Males in Blue.
| Picture Credit score: DEEPAK KR

The continued ODI sequence is India’s final probability to get its home so as forward of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Whereas the convincing four-wicket win within the opening fixture right here gave some optimistic cues, a couple of extra items of the puzzle stay to be solved.

At a time when the Indian workforce and followers are sweating over Jasprit Bumrah’s health and availability for the ICC occasion, it was crucial that somebody like Harshit Rana received match follow to present the administration an possibility in case the previous doesn’t get well in time.

The 23-year-old pacer has had a dream run in the previous few months, beginning together with his Check debut in Australia in November, adopted by his maiden T20I look every week in the past. On Thursday, he accomplished his assortment of worldwide caps when he made his ODI debut on the VCA Stadium and gave account of himself.

He struck thrice (7-1-53-3) and helped limit England to a modest rating earlier than the batters chased down the goal simply.

Greater than the wickets, what was extra heartening was the way in which he bounced again strongly after being taken for 37 runs in his first three overs.

“There are at all times ups and downs in cricket. I solely needed to give attention to my size, bowl the place I’ve to, and I received rewarded later,” stated Harshit when requested about being taken for 26 runs in an over by Phil Salt. However the Delhi pacer made the requisite changes in his second spell and bent his again to bother Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone with further bounce.

“You may say that it was deliberate. Earlier, I needed to set him up by bowling a bit full, after which I bowled quick supply and received the reward,” Harshit added in regards to the Brook dismissal.

These are nonetheless early days for Harshit, and there will likely be harder challenges forward, however for now, he and the workforce will likely be happy with the beginning.

Apart from Harshit, Ravindra Jadeja (three for 26) too was spectacular in his first ODI since November 2023, whereas Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill seemed serene.

India’s Mohammed Shami in motion throughout the first ODI match in opposition to England, at Vidarbha Cricket Affiliation Stadium in Nagpur, on Thursday, Feb. 06, 2025.
| Picture Credit score:
DEEPAK KR

Mohammed Shami additionally appeared in good rhythm, beating the perimeters regardless of going for some runs within the PowerPlay. He hurried the batters with tempo and bounce in his second spell earlier than cleansing up Brydon Carse.

On the identical time, there are nonetheless areas of fear, chief amongst them being Rohit Sharma’s poor type. The skipper’s mode of soppy dismissals alerts an rising sample of concern and has solely two extra probabilities to repair it.

Extra apparently, Shreyas claimed that if not for Virat Kohli’s last-minute harm, he may need sat out for Yashasvi Jaiswal. The teaching set-up prefers to have a mixture of left-and-right-handed batters, and it stays to be seen if they are going to pursue this shifting ahead and push the likes of Gill and Kohli one slot down. And now that Shreyas has made runs, will probably be attention-grabbing to see who will make approach when Kohli returns?