Ind vs Eng: Sparkling centuries by Kohli, Jadhav steer India to win

It was a tough first day at the office for India's captain in all the three formats, Virat Kohli, on Sunday. On the eve of the first ODI here on Saturday, Kohli spoke with pride about being keen "to take the bulk of responsibility... while others expressed themselves around him".

True to his words, he took the onus upon himself to chase down England's mammoth 351 and guiding the team to victory by three wickets. Coming in at a difficult situation with the team reduced to 63/4, Kohli did not let the weight of expectations get the better of him. He has thrived on such situations and excelled before. Sunday was just another day at the office for him.

As the pressure mounted and four of India's main batsmen went back in the pavilion, Kohli did not curb his attacking instincts. On a typical limited-overs pitch that was full of runs – as shown by England when they made 350/7 after being put in to bat – Kohli found a perfect partner in local boy Kedar Jadhav to bat around him.

The 31-year-old Maharashtra right-hander batted with freedom, scored at a faster rate than his skipper while Kohli took the responsibility of securing one end. Runs flew thick and fast, the duo not letting the asking rate of 7.02 an over go beyond India's reach. During their 200-run partnership for the fifth wicket in just 24.3 overs, the asking rate even touched below 6.

Barring the first Power Play of 10 overs when India suffered early jolts, the hosts were ahead of the visitors at every five-over stage. Both Kohli and Jadhav scored invaluable centuries, Kohli his 27th ODI ton and Jadhav, his second. They made batting look so easy that any target could be surpassed. That they had to endure cramps and eventually fell to tired-looking shots showed that the situation left them drained.

The platform the two set was cashed in on Hardik Pandya, who ensured that India did not create any hara-kiri after 60 were needed from 61 deliveries when Jadhav was out sixth.

The extra spring in Kohli's step as India's new full-time captain was visible on the field early when England batted. Twice in succession in Jasprit Bumrah's first over, the eighth of the England innings, Kohli at mid-off fumbled while collecting the ball on the run.

It may have seemed that he was over enthusiastic on the field but such was the unevenness of the field that the ball was going away from him.

His effort to stop the ball and cut the flow of runs did not bear fruits even in the middle overs as England went on a calculated assault.

The visiting batsmen found the aerial route with great ease that 11 hits went soaring over the boundary rope, some even landing into the full-house crowd. India matched England's six-hitting abilities with 10 including nine from the combined blades of Kohli and Jadhav.

Kohli only looked helplessly at his bowlers as England, put in to bat, made merry. The Englishmen were fed with one full toss too many. The man who made the difference between England attaining a par score and above par was Ben Stokes, who stroked his way to a 40-ball 62.

Stokes carried on the momentum given by the top-order, particularly opener Jason Roy and Joe Root. England would have wanted one of the two to go on to score a big hundred but given the red-hot form that Stokes was in, England would not have be complaining.

In the little under 10 overs that the Durham left-hander was in the middle, Stokes removed off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin out of the attack, the offie going for 63 in eight overs without any reward. England scored exactly 200 in the second half of their innings, and 65 in the last five overs.