Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan has voiced his opinions on the Indian team’s six-wicket win over England in the first ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Tuesday, July 14, as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.
Speaking exclusively on Cricbuzz, the former speedster has hailed Gurnoor Brar and Jasprit Bumrah for turning the game upside down as England lost five wickets from 61/0 to 80/5 after the first powerplay.
“When the format is different, you approach the game in a different way. India made a good comeback because Gurnoor Brar picked up those two opening wickets in a single over, and then Jasprit Bumrah was brought back,” Zaheer Khan told Cricbuzz.
Furthermore, Zaheer has also heaped praise on the India skipper, Shubman Gill, for his aggressive captaincy skills. He went on to laud Gill for changing Brar’s bowling end, which turned the course of the game.
“We saw a very good aspect of Shubman Gill’s captaincy there. He was being aggressive; he was thinking of going for wickets. The way Shubman Gill rotated his bowlers, I’d give him full marks for that. The way he changed Gurnoor Brar’s end, it helped him,” he added.
Shifting our focus to the details of the game, England, after opting to bat first, posted a mediocre total of 258 in 47.5 overs. Joe Root scored an unbeaten 76-run knock, while Liam Dawson scored 68 runs. All-rounder Axar Patel racked up a four-wicket haul.
In the second innings, India finished the game in 45.2 overs with six wickets in hand. Shubman Gill (80), Washington Sundar (52*), and Axar Patel (57*) were the top batters in the chase.
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