India beat England by 6 wickets, lead ODI series 1-0

India won by 6 wickets with 28 balls remaining in the first ODI of the India tour of England 2026, with Axar Patel delivering the match-defining all-round performance. Named Player of the Match, Axar claimed 4 for 62 and then struck 57 as India chased down 259 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI leg.

The result marked India’s first win of the UK tour after a difficult T20 stretch in which England had dominated, winning four of the five completed matches after the opener was washed out. This victory not only halted that run but also gave India the early advantage in the ODI series, with two matches still to come on Thursday, July 16 and Sunday, July 19.

England innings: Root and Dawson repair, Axar breaks through

England were bowled out for 258 in 47.5 overs, and their innings was shaped by two substantial efforts in the middle order. Joe Root made 76 and Liam Dawson added 68, while Ben Duckett’s 43 gave the innings early direction. But India kept finding moments, and the most decisive interventions came from Axar.

Axar Patel’s 4 for 62 in 9.5 overs ensured England never fully broke free. Each time the hosts looked set to push beyond a competitive total into something more imposing, India struck back. Prasidh Krishna supported with 2 for 50 from 10 overs, while Gurnoor Brar also took 2 for 61 in 9 overs. Jasprit Bumrah, back in India colours, was economical for his 1 for 31 in 9 overs, and Shivam Dube chipped in with 1 for 27 from 6.

Washington Sundar’s contribution with the ball was also important in tempo terms. His 4 overs cost only 13 runs, helping India squeeze the scoring rate through the middle phase even without a wicket next to his name.

For England, Root’s 76 and Dawson’s 68 gave the total ballast, but being dismissed inside 48 overs left them a little short. In a format where preserving wickets for a final surge often decides whether 258 becomes 280-plus, India’s attack made sure that surge never quite arrived.

India chase: Gill anchors, Axar and Washington finish the job

India’s reply was controlled rather than frantic, ending at 262 for 4 in 45.2 overs. Shubman Gill led the chase with 80, setting the platform with the kind of ODI innings that blended assurance with tempo. Once India had that base, the all-rounders took over.

Axar Patel followed his four-wicket haul with 57 in a superb double contribution, and Washington Sundar added 52 to further underline India’s depth. Between them, India turned a chase that still needed management into one that was settled with authority, reaching the target with more than four overs to spare.

England’s wicket-takers were limited to one each from Josh Tongue, Sam Curran and Jofra Archer. Tongue’s involvement added another thread to the day given the interest around his debut appearance, but India’s batting unit never allowed England to build sustained pressure through regular strikes.

The key to the chase was that India did not need one explosive passage to finish it. Gill’s 80 gave them shape, Axar’s 57 gave them momentum, and Washington’s 52 gave them certainty. That combination left England chasing the match rather than controlling it.

What this means for the series

This was Match 6 of 8 on the tour and the first ODI after England had comprehensively owned the T20 leg. They won the second T20 by 4 wickets, the third by 125 runs, the fourth by 9 wickets and the fifth by 56 runs, after the opening T20 ended in no result. India have now shifted the narrative at the start of the 50-over leg.

The ODI series now stands at 1-0 to India. It does not decide the series, but it gives the visitors the lead and the chance to clinch it in the next match on Thursday, July 16. England, meanwhile, must respond there to keep the contest alive heading into the final ODI on Sunday, July 19.

Key performers

• Axar Patel (India): 4/62 in 9.5 overs and 57, Player of the Match
• Shubman Gill (India): 80 in the chase
• Washington Sundar (India): 52 and 0/13 from 4 overs
• Joe Root (England): 76
• Liam Dawson (England): 68
• Jasprit Bumrah (India): 1/31 from 9 overs
• Prasidh Krishna (India): 2/50 from 10 overs

NerdSports Stat: Axar Patel influenced 61.6% of England’s total through runs conceded and wickets taken, then returned to score 22% of India’s chase himself — a rare all-round imprint in a successful ODI chase of 250-plus.

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