Gutted England captain Jos Buttler rued England's four-wicket defeat against India in the ODI series opener in Nagpur on February 6. This was England's second loss to India in just five days, as a batting collapse yet again became the reason behind England's defeat. This loss comes on the heels of a 150-run defeat in the final T20 in Mumbai on Sunday, where England were bundled out for a mere 97 runs in just 10.3 overs while chasing a mammoth 248.
While the format changed to ODIs, England's fortunes didn't improve. Despite posting 248 all out, they would have expected a much stronger performance, particularly after a blistering start. Phil Salt (43 off 26 balls) and Ben Duckett (32 off 29 balls) had given them a flying start, reaching 75-0 in under nine overs. This included a particularly brutal over from Salt, where he smashed 26 runs off Harshit Rana.
England's promising start quickly unraveled as they lost three wickets for just two runs in eight balls. This collapse began with a comical run-out, a result of a mix-up between Salt and Duckett. Later, when Jos Buttler was dismissed for 52 off 67 balls, it sparked another slump, with the score falling from 170-4. Ultimately, only Buttler and Jacob Bethell (51 off 64 balls) managed to score half-centuries.
Chasing 249 for victory, India, despite missing Virat Kohli (due to a knee injury), comfortably reached their target with 68 balls remaining. Shubman Gill (87), Shreyas Iyer (59 off 36 balls), and Axar Patel (52 off 47 balls) were the standout performers with the bat. Despite a late wobble, India secured a four-wicket win and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Disappointed not to win the game: Jos Buttler
Meanwhile, Buttler, during the post-match press conference, admitted that England batters could have added 40-50 runs more on the board the way wicket played towards the end.
"Disappointed not to win the game. We got off to a fantastic start in the powerplay but we lost wickets. Another 40-50 runs could have been handy with the way the wicket played towards the end. The guys started really well. The game was in the balance at that point, but credit to Shreyas Iyer to build that partnership. We have to play better for longer," Buttler said after the match.
England will look to bounce back in the second ODI against India to stay alive in the three-match series. Notably, the second ODI between India and England is slated to be played on February 9 in Odisha.