England opener Phil Salt went on a rampage in the sixth over of the innings, taking debutant Harshit Rana apart for 26 runs in the 1st ODI between both nations. The aggressive batter displayed his full range of shots, smashing three sixes and two fours in a brutal assault. Salt’s fearless intent completely unsettled Rana, making it a nightmare over for the young Indian pacer.
England’s Phil Salt destroys Harshit Rana with a 26-run over in 1st ODI
The last over of the powerplay began with a bit of fortune for Salt as he attempted a powerful swipe across the line, only to get a top edge that sailed over the wicketkeeper for six. The next ball, fuller outside off, was crisply driven through extra cover for four, a testament to Salt’s superb timing. Rana, searching for a variation, bowled a slower delivery, but Salt was up to the task, moving across early and picking it up cleanly for a massive slog-sweep over deep backward square. Feeling the pressure, Rana cranked up his pace to nearly 144 kph, but Salt was unfazed, rocking back to muscle a pull shot over midwicket for another boundary. The final delivery of the over was another short ball, and Salt, in complete control, cleared his front leg and deposited it over square leg for his third six of the over.
By the time the over ended, Rana looked rattled, while Salt stood tall, racing to 34 off just 21 balls. The explosive hitting not only gave England a rapid start but also highlighted Salt’s ability to dominate the bowling attack. For Rana, it was a harsh introduction to ODI cricket, with his debut over turning into a forgettable one.
Here’s the video:
Phil salt smashed harshit rana for 26 runs 👋#cricket #INDvENG #Harshitrana pic.twitter.com/ZLmePpryH5
— Aman (@Amanriz78249871) February 6, 2025
Also READ: IND vs ENG, 1st ODI: Here’s why Virat Kohli is not playing today’s match
India strikes back after Phil Salt’s fierce assault in Nagpur
England started aggressively in the first ODI at Nagpur, with Salt taking the attack to India’s bowlers. He smashed 43 off just 26 balls, dismantling debutant Rana in a brutal 26-run over. His explosive strokeplay, including three sixes and five fours, put India under early pressure.
However, a mix-up with Ben Duckett led to his unfortunate run-out, shifting momentum in India’s favour. Rana bounced back by dismissing Duckett and Harry Brook in quick succession, reducing England from a dominant 75/0 to 77/3 in a matter of deliveries. Joe Root attempted to stabilize the innings but fell LBW to Ravindra Jadeja after a successful Indian review. With Buttler holding one end, England are now rebuilding, but India’s spinners are starting to grip the game. Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja are tightening the screws, ensuring England’s scoring rate does not escalate. The visitors will need a strong lower-order contribution to post a competitive total, while India aim to keep them under achievable target on this sluggish surface.
Also WATCH: Yashasvi Jaiswal plucks a blinder to dismiss Ben Duckett in Nagpur ODI – IND vs ENG
