Gill overcame cramp to make 87 and take India close to the finish line on a two-paced, turning wicket at Nagpur's Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium after Axar Patel scored 52 in a 108-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Shubman Gill has been named as the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team in the ODI series against England and also the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel smashed half-centuries as India defeated England by four wickets in the opening one-day international on Thursday and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series that is a warmup for the Champions Trophy.

India went into the match without the talismanic Virat Kohli, who was unavailable because of a sore right knee, and at that juncture losing Yashasvi Jaiswal (15) and Rohit Sharma (2) cheaply was a recipe for disaster. But Gill batted sensibly and with Iyer playing a counter-attacking innings, helped India to safety.

India vice-captain Shubman Gill was awarded Player of the Match for his 87 off 96 knock against England in the first ODI in Nagpur.

Chasing a below 250 score, Gill anchored the innings, forging key partnerships with Iyer and Axar that became the backbone of India's chase

India vice-captain Shubman Gill on Thursday opened up on his stunning fifty against England in the first ODI match of the series and said that his plan was not going too much on the back foot.Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer's mouthwatering fifties helped India to clinch a four-wicket triumph over England in the first ODI match of the series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur

Gill, who dropped down to No.3 as India handed debut to Yashasvi Jaiswal, smashed 87 off 96 balls to help India chase down the 249-run target in 38.4 overs.

Shubman Gill stepped up to fill the void left by Virat Kohli in the Indian batting lineup as he scored a brilliant 87 against England in the Nagpur ODI. Vice-captain Gill anchored the run chase perfectly for India.