India's chase of 259 in the first ODI against England suffered an early blow as senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma failed to convert their starts into meaningful contributions. With a manageable target on the board, much of the spotlight was on the experienced duo to lay the foundation, but England's pace attack had other ideas.
Sam Curran Removes Rohit After Slow Start
According to ABP Live, Rohit Sharma was dismissed by Sam Curran after a slow start. The early wicket put India on the back foot, with the captain unable to build the innings as expected.
Virat Kohli also failed to make an impact, falling cheaply as England's pace attack maintained pressure. Their dismissals handed the hosts early momentum, putting additional responsibility on India's middle order.
Veterans Return To ODI Lineup
Both Kohli and Rohit returned to the ODI side after a disappointing T20I tour. The series marks their comeback to the 50-over format, with expectations high that the experienced duo would anchor the chase. However, England's bowlers had other plans, striking early to leave India in trouble.
"Their dismissals handed the hosts early momentum, putting additional responsibility on India's middle order." — ABP Live
Our Take: A Worrying Sign For India
In our view, this is a worrying sign for India. The team has relied heavily on Kohli and Rohit for years, and their failure to convert starts in a modest chase raises questions about the batting depth. With the middle order now under pressure, India's ability to recover will be tested. England's pace attack has shown they can exploit early weaknesses, and India must find answers quickly if they are to stay in the series.
