India finally turned things around on tour, beating England in the Birmingham ODI after weeks of losses. Axar Patel led the fightback with a 4-wicket haul and an unbeaten 50, while Washington Sundar and Shubman Gill backed him up in the chase. The pacers set it up early by reducing England to 80/5. Format switch brings relief India needed a win badly. Even after winning 2 T20 World Cups and a Champions Trophy, the heat is always on after a few losses. Losing 6 on the trot, including to Ireland and England in T20Is, made it worse. Moving to ODIs and bringing back the senior players did the trick. Bumrah returned to 50-over cricket after almost 3 years and looked right at home from ball one. Senior trio flops together Not the day for India’s big 3. Rohit managed just 4 off 15 before holing out to Curran. Kohli fell to Archer for LBW. Then Rahul, with a chance to anchor after Gill retired hurt, chopped on for 1. All 3 together: 17 runs. Axar’s perfect comeback This was Axar’s first ODI since Sydney last year. He’d lost his spot to Jadeja, then Dubey. And with Washington batting above Rahul, Axar had competition for the all-rounder slot. He answered both ways. With the ball: broke a big partnership and ran through the tail to stop Root. With the bat: came in when India wobbled, added 100+ with Washington, and finished the chase himself. 4 wickets + unbeaten fifty + Player of the Match = statement made. With the World Cup in South Africa coming up and India likely to play only one finger-spinner, Axar just put himself ahead in that race. Post navigation Sinner Holds Off Zverev to Defend Wimbledon Crown
