Gill's unbeaten 80 guides India to victory over En...

By Priya Nair — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

Shubman Gill played a pivotal role in India‘s six-wicket victory over England in the first One Day International (ODI) at Edgbaston. Gill scored an unbeaten 80 before retiring due to cramps, contributing to a crucial partnership that set up India’s chase.

During India’s pursuit of 259 runs, Gill and his deputy Shreyas Iyer formed a significant 101-run partnership from 103 balls. This stand was vital, especially after India lost early wickets, with Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (5) dismissed cheaply, leaving the score at 48 for 2 in 8.3 overs.

Gill’s innings, which lasted 75 balls and included 11 fours and a six, saw him spend 120 minutes at the crease. He adapted his play to the conditions, initially absorbing pressure from seamers Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue on a pitch that offered assistance to new-ball bowlers.

While Rohit Sharma adopted a more cautious approach, Gill paced his innings effectively. After hitting two early boundaries, he focused on singles and dot balls against England’s pace attack, including Sam Curran. Later, he attacked spinners Adil Rashid, Jacob Bethell, and Will Jacks, demonstrating his range of strokes.

Despite experiencing cramps, Gill maintained his tempo, continuing to score singles and doubles. His ability to rotate strike and attack when necessary, without resorting to slogging, was a highlight of his performance. Five of his 11 boundaries came on the off side, and six on the leg side, with his only six coming off Josh Tongue over deep backward square leg. The cut shot was particularly effective, yielding 16 runs.

Injury Concerns for India

While Gill’s performance was key, India faced an injury scare during the match. Fast bowler Gurnoor Brar had to leave the field in the closing stages of the first ODI at Edgbaston due to discomfort. Brar, playing his first international match in England, had earlier contributed significantly by taking two quick wickets, triggering an England collapse.

Brar experienced discomfort at the end of his run-up in the 48th over and signaled to the dressing room. Despite attention from the Indian physio, he was unable to continue, and Axar Patel completed the over. The extent of Brar’s injury was not immediately updated by the Indian team.

Before his exit, Brar had a notable outing with the ball. After England raced to 61 without loss, Brar adjusted his length and struck twice in quick succession. He dismissed Jacob Bethell with a rising delivery and then removed Ben Duckett with a ball that climbed awkwardly, leading to a catch by Jasprit Bumrah.

These two wickets contributed to England’s slump from 61 without loss to 107 for 6. England eventually recovered, with Joe Root scoring 76 and Liam Dawson registering 68, forming a 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket to post a total of 258. Brar finished with figures of 2 for 61 from nine overs.

Looking Ahead

Gill expressed his expectation to be fit for the second ODI at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. His demeanor upon leaving Birmingham and on the eve of the second ODI suggested he was ready for the upcoming match. His innings at Edgbaston showcased his understanding of conditions, attacking when appropriate and ensuring India remained in control of the chase.

The cramps prevented Gill from finishing his innings on the field, but his efforts were instrumental in India’s victory. The team’s attention will now also be on Brar’s fitness, especially given recent injury concerns within the squad, including Harshit Rana, Hardik Pandya, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

India was well-placed at 110 for 2 in 20 overs, needing 149 runs from 30 overs when Gill reached his half-century from 51 balls.