A moment of brilliance in the field from India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill helped the hosts break a crucial stand in the second ODI against England in Cuttack on Sunday.
Just when the third-wicket partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook looked to be taking England to a point from where they could launch a final flourish, Harshit Rana‘s disguised slower delivery bounced and foxed Brook (31) to mistime a shot as the ball hit high on his bat and went straight up.
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Gill, running back from mid-off, kept his eyes on the ball while looking over his shoulder and took it with his out-stretched hands before falling on the ground.
It ended the dangerous-looking 66-run stand.
Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bat, England openers laid the foundation of 81 runs before Philip Salt was dismissed by debutant spinner Varun Chakravarthy for 26.
The other England opener, Ben Duckett, was looking good at 65 but he was snared by Ravindra Jadeja — caught in the deep by Hardik Pandya.
It’s a must-win game for the visitors as India lead the three-match series 1-0, having registered a four-wicket win in the first ODI at Nagpur.
India made two changes to their playing XI for the match, as Virat Kohli returned fit after a knee niggle to replace Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Chakravarthy came in for Kuldeep Yadav.