England captain rues middle-order collapse, praises Gill-Iyer partnership
Nagpur, February 7: England skipper Jos Buttler admitted his team failed to play up to expectations after suffering a four-wicket defeat to India in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday.
Despite a strong start in the powerplay, England’s middle-order collapse proved costly, allowing India to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Shubman Gill (87) and Shreyas Iyer (59) led India’s chase, with Axar Patel (52) also contributing a crucial knock.
“Disappointed Not to Win” – Buttler
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Buttler acknowledged England’s early advantage but lamented their inability to capitalize on it.
“Disappointed not to win the game. Thought we got off to a fantastic start in the powerplay. Openers got off to a great start, but losing four wickets was frustrating. An extra 40-50 runs would have been crucial,” Buttler said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
He also highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum and praised India’s key batting partnership.
“[Losing wickets in clusters] That is not how we want to play. We want to put the opposition under pressure and keep the momentum. At 20 for 2, the game was in the balance. If we had found a way to take a wicket there, it could have been different, but Gill and Iyer put on a good partnership. We want to play better for longer. We have shown in stages that we are doing the right thing, but when we have the momentum, we need to extend it,” he added.
Match Recap: India Secure Four-Wicket Victory
After winning the toss and electing to bat, England posted 248 in 47.4 overs. Phil Salt (43) and Ben Duckett (32) gave them a fiery 75-run opening stand, but wickets fell quickly. Joe Root (19) and Buttler (52 off 67 balls) tried to stabilize the innings, while Jacob Bethell (51) and Jofra Archer’s late cameo (21)* helped England reach a competitive total.
For India, Ravindra Jadeja (3/26) and Harshit Rana (3/53) led the bowling attack, with Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, and Kuldeep Yadav picking up a wicket each.
During the chase, Shubman Gill (87 off 96 balls, 14 fours) and Shreyas Iyer (59 off 36 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) dominated England’s bowling attack. Axar Patel (52 off 47 balls, 6 fours, 1 six) provided the finishing touch as India chased down the target with four wickets in hand.
England’s Saqib Mahmood and Adil Rashid took two wickets each, but their efforts fell short in defending the total.
What’s Next?
India and England will face off in the second ODI of the series on Sunday in Cuttack, where England will look to bounce back and keep the series alive.