Axar Patel and Washington Sundar finished off India’s chase as the tourists beat England by six wickets in the India Vs England Odi, reaching 262-4 with 28 balls to spare after England were bowled out for 258.
The win was another step forward for India after a 4-0 defeat in the T20s, and it also extended England’s ODI struggles under Brendon McCullum. Since he took charge of England’s white-ball teams at the start of last year, this was their 13th ODI loss, leaving them eighth in the world overall.
Axar and Sundar close out the chase
India’s reply was built on control rather than fireworks. Axar Patel stayed unbeaten on 57 from 52 balls, while Washington Sundar helped see the chase through as India made sure there was no late wobble on a dry surface that offered variable bounce for the quicks.
That finish mattered because England had threatened to make the target awkward after posting 258. India still got there with enough comfort to underline the difference between the two sides in the closing overs.
England’s start never became enough
England needed a strong batting effort to put pressure on India, but the innings never fully settled. Harry Brook pointed to the opening partnership as the difference, and England’s batting lacked the sort of long, controlling stand that would have changed the shape of the match.
Ben Duckett made 43 and Jacob Bethell added 14, but England could not turn those contributions into a bigger total. The innings ended at 258, leaving India a chase they could manage even after an earlier wobble in the series opener at Edgbaston, where England had already lost by six wickets.
What it means for both sides
For India, the result was a useful bounce-back and a reminder that the batting order still has options when a chase needs finishing. For England, it was another example of a white-ball side still searching for consistency under McCullum.
There was also some historical context at the ground. During last year’s Test at the same venue, Shubman Gill had scored 430 runs, and Jasprit Bumrah was playing his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup final. Those details did not decide this match, but they added to the sense that this was a fixture with plenty of recent history attached.
In the end, India handled the chase cleanly, and Axar Patel’s unbeaten 57 from 52 balls was the key reason the target never became a real problem.
