'This is a team game' - Sunil Gavaskar lambasts KL Rahul's batting approach in first ODI

Sunil Gavaskar criticized KL Rahul's batting approach in the first ODI of the series between India and England, which was held in Nagpur, on Thursday, February 6. Notably, Axar Patel was promoted to the number five slot in the batting order ahead of Rahul.

The all-rounder showed his prowess with the willow, scoring a 47-ball 52. When Axar departed, India were just 28 runs short of their target of 249. At that point, Shubman Gill was batting on 81 and upon arrival, KL Rahul decided to play defensive cricket to allow the Punjab batter to get to the three-figure mark. However, this approach didn't work out well for the Karnataka cricketer, as he chipped a delivery back to Adil Rashid.

As a result, Rahul only managed to score just two runs off nine balls. In the following over, Gill was dismissed for a well-compiled 87 off 96 balls, before Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja took India home.

"(This is) exactly what I was saying. You don't have to go into a shell. This is a team game. Sometimes you might look to try and bat it out, tap the ball back because you want to help the partner to get a hundred, but this is how it can end up. A half-hearted shot," Gavaskar said about Rahul's dismissal during English commentary for the host broadcaster.

India to clash against England in Cuttack after series lead

Team India chased the target in just 38.4 overs with four wickets to spare. This was after Jadeja and Harshit Rana starred with the ball in the first innings. They picked three wickets apiece, while Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell scored half-centuries.

Also Read: IND vs ENG 2025: Sanjay Manjrekar calls Shubman Gill 'lambi race ka ghoda' after Nagpur heroics

England were bowled out for 248 in 47.4 overs. Meanwhile, for India, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman, and Axar registered half-centuries. The second ODI is set to be held at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, on Sunday, February 9. The Three Lions need to win the match to stay afloat in the three-match series.