A Rout To Watch

If the final T20 game was a study on batting , then the first ODI between England and India was a masterclass in bowling. The match was held at the Kennington Oval , London , and was an opportunity for England to start on a good note , especially since they lost the previous series .

It is to be noted that England , on paper , had a weaker bowling line up than what they can muster , but their batsmen were of the highest calibre . In fact , their deadly trio of batsmen Jos Buttler , Joe Root, and Ben Stokes were playing together for the first time since 2019 . It was supposed to be a battle between two batting powerhouses . But Bumrah had other plans .

Bumrah unleashed an opening spell so deadly , that England was tottering at 5/28 at the end of merely 8 overs . Winning the toss , India chose to bowl , and Bumrah justified that decision by using the fast and green English pitches against the home country . It was only due to the doggedness of the 9th wicket stand between Carse and Wiley that England even managed to reach three digits.

And to rub salt in the wounds , Rohit Sharma and Dhawan casually reached the target in 18 overs , without losing a wicket , with Rohit hitting yet another 50 . This match was a complete stomp by India , with Bumrah in prime form and leading the charge of the pace bowlers against England , in pace friendly England. But if history is anything to go by , it is imperative to not count out England , for they most definitely can crawl out from this low point and come revamped for the next game . It is sure to be one to watch . Have a great week ahead !