Team India stars Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli were spotted playfully teasing each other after India’s comfortable victory over England in the first ODI in Nagpur on Thursday, February 6. A video circulating on social media showed the duo sharing smiles as Pandya made his way back to the dressing room.
Kohli missed the rare international match due to a right knee injury, which Rohit Sharma confirmed at the toss. However, the veteran batter didn’t hold back his excitement as he stepped out of the dressing room to celebrate India’s 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Shortly after the match, Kohli was seen laughing and chatting with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja on the sidelines. You can watch the video here:
https://x.com/onlykohly/status/1887520282644013459?s=46
Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on nine as India secured a comfortable victory. Earlier, the seam-bowling all-rounder bowled seven overs, conceding 37 runs while delivering a maiden over, but he couldn’t pick up a wicket.
Shubman Gill Shines at No. 3 in Kohli’s Absence, Delivers Match-Winning Knock in Nagpur
With Virat Kohli absent for the first ODI, Shubman Gill took the No. 3 spot for India. Gill, who was also named vice-captain for the series, came in during the fifth over after Jofra Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for 15. With Rohit Sharma also falling early, there was some pressure on the 25-year-old as India chased a challenging target of 249.
However, Shreyas Iyer, who joined him at the crease, relieved the pressure with some impressive counterattacking shots. The pair put together a 94-run partnership until Iyer was dismissed for 59. Gill brought up his half-century off just 60 balls and formed a solid 108-run partnership with Axar Patel, who scored 52.
Gill eventually fell for 87, and although India lost six wickets towards the end, they still secured the win with 74 balls and six wickets to spare. The two teams will head to Cuttack for the second ODI on Sunday, February 9.
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