England's long tour of India entered its last leg, as the two teams locked horns at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Tuesday. While the opening game of the Test and the T20I series against England remained lacklustre, the hosts made sure that ODIs do not get the same kind of start.
After posting a moderate total of 317 for 5 in stipulated 50 overs, India managed to wrap up England for just 251. After the match, Indian skipper Virat Kohli termed the win in the opening ODI as one of their "sweetest (win) in the recent past".
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"This is one of our sweetest wins in the recent past. This one is right up there with any other. Getting nine wickets so quickly is outstanding. To come back into the game the way they did is brilliant. I'm a really, really proud man right now," said Kohli at the post-match presentation.
Kohli did not shy away from praising his batsman who were questioned for being out of form for a while. "We promote players who have intent. Special mention to Shikhar's innings as well. KL as well, back among the runs. We want to back the people who we know will go out and do a selfless job," Kohli added after the 66-run win.
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England had more than a steady start chasing 318 on a good surface. Visitors were cruising at 135 for no loss in the 15th over when the debutant - Prasidh Krishna - struck. Indian bowlers from there on tightened their grip with pacer Prasidh taking the best bowling figure by an Indian bowler on debut with 4 wickets at the cost of 54 runs. Shardul Thakur took 3, Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped 2 and another debutant Krunal Pandya took one wicket.
Earlier, batting first Shikhar Dhawan fell two runs short of a century, while captain Kohli made a half-century. KL Rahul made 43-ball 62, Krunal Pandya hammered 31-ball 58 which propelled India to a competitive total.