WATCH: Arshdeep Goes Slow To Dismiss England's Fast And Furious Openers

Chasing a target of 357, England openers got off to a flying start in the second innings of the third One-Day International (ODI) against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 12 (Wednesday).

After having added 75 runs in 8.5 overs and 81 runs in 10.5 overs in the first two ODIs, respectively, England openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett once again took the attack to India in the powerplay.

England were 60 for no loss at the end of six overs, but that’s when Arshdeep Singh, playing his first game of the series, brought India back in the game by dismissing both Salt and Duckett in the space of 14 deliveries.

The left-arm seamer was slammed for four consecutive boundaries in the fifth over of the innings but Arshdeep got his revenge in his next over. Arshdeep brought out the knuckle ball and Duckett couldn’t stop himself from having a heave at it, only to end up getting a leading edge. 

Indian captain Rohit Sharma took a simple catch to dismiss Duckett for 34 off 22. Arshdeep wasn’t done yet as he kept changing his pace and once again got the reward, this time getting rid of dangerous Salt (23 off 21) in the ninth over.

This time it was a slower bumper and Salt tried to ramp it over the head of the fielder at short third man but got no pace to work with. The ball went straight into the hands of Axar Patel and just like that England lost both their openers in no time.

Arshdeep wasn’t picked for the first two ODIs but came into the XI in place of Mohammed Shami. The left-armer, who has been one of India’s frontline T20I seamers alongside Jasprit Bumrah, is part of the Champions Trophy 2025 squad and could now start ahead of one of Shami or Harshit Rana.