TimesofIndia.com in Cardiff: Shubman Gill revealed that a bout of cramps forced him to withdraw during the first ODI between India and England in Birmingham on Tuesday. Before cautiously walking off the field, India captain Gill had scored an unbeaten 80 and stitched a crucial stand with his deputy. Shreyas Iyer. His exit from the middle, followed by the quick wickets of Iyer and KL Rahul, made things nervous for the visitors, but Washington Sundar and Axar Patel ensured his captain’s hard work did not go in vain as India sealed a six-wicket win at Edgbaston. Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, Gill said he expected to be fit for the second ODI at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday. His demeanor as he left Birmingham, and again on the eve of the second ODI in Wales, where the weather has been hot over the past week, suggested he was fit and fired up going into this pivotal series.During the opening ODI of the three-match series, as India chased 259, Gill and Iyer put together a crucial partnership of 101 runs from 103 balls to all but take the game away from the hosts. Before that though, as India lost Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (5) at close range, England looked to have the upper hand. Two of India’s batting veterans were back in the pavilion and the scoreboard read 48 for 2 in 8.3 overs.
Shubman Gill scored a feisty 80 in the first ODI against England.
As Shreyas Iyer, who had a disappointing start to his stint as T20I captain in Ireland and England, joined Gill in the middle order, the challenge was to absorb the pressure rather than worry about the required run rate, which was still under a run a ball.During his 75-ball 80, which included 11 fours and a six, Gill spent 120 minutes at the crease. Instead of driving during the powerplay, the 26-year-old opted to absorb the pressure from seamers Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. On a surface that offered assistance to the seamers, both Gill and Rohit Sharma, the other opener, chose to bide their time. The first innings had already shown that the pitch was helping the new-ball bowlers with pace, variable bounce and lateral movement.While Rohit was the more cautious of the two, Gill played his innings, and the chase, to perfection. After opening his innings with back-to-back boundaries, Gill remained largely quiet for the next 13 deliveries, scoring just four runs during that period. With England continuing with the pace, including Sam Curran, Gill was happy to deal in singles and points.
Indian skipper Shubman Gill celebrates his half-century during the 1st ODI against England, at the Edgbaston stadium in Birmingham on Tuesday. (ANI photo)
When the strategy changed, Gill took Adil Rashid, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks. Liam Dawson, too, was brought into the attack. In the 21st over, there was a sweep towards backward square leg. In the next over, Gill played a pristine lofted in-out over extra cover for another boundary.More fittingly, and showing the range of his repertoire, seconds after receiving treatment from the physio for cramps, he played a sweep of Jacks over square leg for another boundary. Even when the problem persisted, Gill’s time in the pursuit did not decrease. Instead, I kept hitting singles and doubles pushing the ball long and long.What sets Gill apart as a master chaser is not only his ability to attack when necessary and rotate the strike when necessary. It is his ability to score without slogging, without constantly taking the aerial route, and using the off-side field intelligently.
Indian captain Shubman Gill plays a shot during the 1st ODI against England, at the Edgbaston stadium in Birmingham on Tuesday. (ANI photo)
Of Gill’s 11 boundaries, five came from the off side and six from the leg side. His only six off Josh Tongue sailed over the backward square leg boundary. The cut shot was his most productive knock, conceding 16 runs, including two boundaries.With Gill’s availability for the second ODI yet to be categorically confirmed, it’s hard to find anyone who has mastered the art of seamlessly dropping Virat Kohli like Gill.Gill’s knock at Edgbaston was a reminder that the best ODI chases are rarely built on relentless aggression. Instead, they require clarity of thought, adaptability and the confidence to trust the process. In a field where survival was more important than speeding scoring, Gill judged the conditions better than anyone. He attacked only when the game allowed him and ensured that India never lost sight of the target.Cramps may have denied a deserved finish, but the job was already done. It was another innings that reinforced why, at just 26, Gill is fast emerging as the standard bearer for India’s next generation of ODI batsmen.