India skipper Virat Kohli and opener Shikhar Dhawan scored individual half-centuries on Tuesday as India beat England by 66 runs in the first of the three-match ODI series against England in Pune.

Virat Kohli lost the toss and was put to bat first by Eoin Morgan. India was on a slow and steady start, however, Rohit Sharma was taken out by Ben Stokes, scoring 28 runs off 42 balls.

Shikhar Dhawan top scored for India with a 106-ball 98 and KL Rahul chipped in with an able 62.

Pacer Prasidh Krishna and all-rounder Krunal Pandya made their international debut in this match, while KL Rahul took the wicket-keeping responsibilities despite a poor T20 series.

Pandya scored the fastest half-century as a debutant in ODI cricket and stitched an important partnership with KL Rahul.

Chasing the target of 318, England lost wickets at regular intervals and despite Johnny Bairstow’s brilliant knock of 94, the English were bundled out for 251 in 42.1 overs to hand india a comfortable 66 run win and 1-0 lead in the three match series. 

The series was thought to be an important one for opener Shikhar Dhawan, who was benched in four T20I matches after failing to make an impact in the first match.

With the India team spoilt for choices for the opening slot with names such as Shubman Gill (In squad) and Prithvi Shaw (Outside), Dhawan would have been looking forward to reestablishing his position in the team and his near-hundred proved the opener will not give up his position so easily.