Confronted with England's meticulous bowling unit, India struggled to amass 229 runs on a pitch offering uneven bounce. Choosing to field first, England's opening bowlers exhibited accuracy and command right from the beginning.
Not only did they dismiss three of India's top four batters, but David Willey and Chris Woakes also bowled maiden overs, applying immense pressure on the dangerous Rohit Sharma.
Shubman Gill's dismissal to an in-seaming delivery, Virat Kohli's rare duck while attempting an uncharacteristic stroke, and Shreyas Iyer's continued struggle against the short ball left India reeling at 40/3. The hosts found themselves with their backs against the wall.
It was at this critical juncture that the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, joined forces to stabilize the innings.
Despite a challenging pitch that didn't favour stroke-making, they maintained a decent run rate and prevented the England spinners from dominating the proceedings.
Rohit Sharma's scoring rate witnessed a dip following KL Rahul's dismissal, and the left-arm seamer David Willey managed to break their 91-run partnership, courtesy of a hasty shot from Rahul. Rohit continued to anchor the innings but eventually fell for a vital 87.
Suryakumar Yadav showcased a positive intent with the bat, although he miscued a shot and was caught in the deep against Adil Rashid. Ravindra Jadeja also fell victim to Rashid, dismissed lbw for 8.
Suryakumar Yadav grappled with batting alongside the tail, resulting in several dot balls, before being dismissed for 49 while attempting a big shot.
Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav managed to stitch together a 21-run partnership in the latter stages, ensuring that India did not face the prospect of getting bowled out.
Despite the early setbacks, Rohit Sharma's determined leadership and valiant batting efforts played a crucial role in India's fight to a competitive total of 229.
As the World Cup encounter between India and England unfolds, both teams will look to build on their respective strengths and seize the initiative in this high-stakes contest.
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