Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen were seen sharing a lighthearted moment following India’s commanding four-wicket victory over England in the first ODI at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday, February 6.

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Although Kohli missed the match due to a sore knee, as confirmed by skipper Rohit Sharma at the toss, he was in high spirits following India’s triumph. The 36-year-old was spotted having a lively chat with Pietersen post-match, adding to the celebratory mood in the Indian camp.

India Takes 1-0 Lead After Clinical Chase

England, batting first, struggled to put up a formidable total as they were bowled out for 248 in 47.4 overs. Skipper Jos Buttler (52) and young batter Jacob Bethell (51) were the only significant contributors. For India, Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Harshit Rana starred with the ball, taking three wickets each.

In response, India had a shaky start, losing Rohit (2) and debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal (15) early. However, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer turned the game in India’s favor with a blistering 94-run partnership off 64 balls. Iyer scored a quickfire 59 off 36 balls, setting the platform for the middle order.

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Shubman then stitched a match-winning 108-run stand with Axar Patel (52 off 47), guiding India to victory with 68 balls to spare. The young opener led the scoring charts with a composed 87 off 96 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award.

With this win, India takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with two ODIs remaining. The hosts will look to extend their dominance in the second match as England aims to bounce back.