Suryakumar Lauds Chakravarthy's 'Magical Spell' After Five-Wicket Haul Secures Thrilling India Win

Sensational Opener Stokes Leads England to Convincing Win in Second ODI

Suryakumar Yadav hailed the "magical spell" of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy after his five-wicket haul powered India to a thrilling five-wicket win over England in the first ODI at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday.

Chakravarthy's Dazzling Display

Chakravarthy, who was making his ODI debut, bamboozled the English batters with his variations and accuracy. He ended with figures of 5/27 in his allotted 10 overs, including the crucial wickets of Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, and Ben Stokes.

His standout moment came in the 15th over, when he dismissed Roy, Bairstow, and Stokes in quick succession to leave England reeling on 75-3. His performance has drawn comparisons to the legendary Pakistani spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who is renowned for his unique bowling style and ability to deceive batters.

Stokes Powers England Response

Earlier, England had set a competitive target of 125 thanks to a superb 99 not out from opener Ben Stokes. The left-hander anchored the English innings, hitting 11 fours and 4 sixes, and sharing crucial partnerships with Joe Root (33) and Jos Buttler (24).

Stokes' knock helped England recover from a shaky start, which saw them lose Jason Roy for a duck in the first over. The all-rounder played with great determination and skill, guiding his team to a respectable total.

India's Clinical Chase

In response, India made a steady start to their run chase, with openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma putting on 50 for the first wicket. However, England fought back with the wickets of Dhawan, Sharma, and Virat Kohli, leaving India struggling at 63-3 in the 13th over.

Suryakumar Yadav then joined KL Rahul at the crease and the pair shared a crucial 80-run partnership to guide India towards victory. Yadav played a particularly impressive knock of 57 not out, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes, and he was ably supported by Rahul, who made 43.

India's Spinners Triumph

India's spinners played a pivotal role in their victory, with Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal picking up two wickets apiece. The duo bowled with great control and variation, making it difficult for the English batters to score freely.

In the end, India reached their target with five balls to spare, securing a crucial win in the three-match series. The victory will give the hosts a valuable boost ahead of the second ODI, which will take place on Friday at the same venue.