India's head coach Gautam Gambhir decided to shake things up by promoting Axar Patel to the No. 5 spot in the batting order for the first ODI against England in Nagpur, pushing KL Rahul down the lineup. This move didn't sit well with fans, who felt it was detrimental to Rahul's career.

Rahul has mostly played at No. 5 in ODIs since a shift a couple of years ago that really boosted his performance, especially highlighted by his strong showing in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Fans expected him to take on that role again at the VCA Stadium, but after Shreyas Iyer was out for 59 off 36, Gambhir opted for Axar instead.

Even though Axar has a solid batting record and has stepped up in similar situations before, like in the T20 World Cup final last year, fans took to social media to express their frustration with Gambhir's decision. Here’s a look at some of their reactions.…

India has set a target of 249 runs

In the series opener in Nagpur, debutant fast bowler Harshit Rana and spinner Ravindra Jadeja each took three wickets, helping India dismiss England for 248. This match served as India's last warm-up before the Champions Trophy kicks off on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

England chose to bat first and got off to a strong start, with opener Phil Salt aggressively attacking Rana, smashing three sixes and two fours in a single over that went for 26 runs. However, Salt was run out after a mix-up with Ben Duckett. Rana quickly bounced back, taking two wickets in no time, and England found themselves at 77-3 after just 10 overs. Even though skipper Jos Buttler scored 52 and Jacob Bethell added 51, the English side lost wickets rapidly and were all out in 47.4 overs.

Read Also: Ravi Shastri Reveals Virat Kohli Missed 1st ODI Due to Swollen Knee; Extent of Injury Unclear

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!