Shreyas Iyer (59) and Axar Patel (52) have chipped in with half-centuries in the chase on Thursday chasing 249 runs

Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel smashed half-centuries as India defeated England by four wickets in the opening one-day international on Thursday and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series that is a warmup for the Champions Trophy.

India rode on Shubman Gill's 87, Shreyas Iyer's 59 and 52 from Axar Patel to win the first game by four wickets. Chasing England's 248, India romped home in 38.4 overs.

Debutant Harshit Rana has grabbed three wickets and vice-captain Shubman Gill has hit 87 runs off 96 balls for India to beat England by four wickets in the first one-day international in Nagpur.

India's middle order batter Shreyas Iyer had to cut short a movie night and turn in earlier than planned on Wednesday but a match-defining half-century against England the next day made it all worthwhile.

While watching a movie and contemplating "extending his night," a call from India captain Rohit Sharma alerted him about replacing Virat Kohli in the first ODI against England and Shreyas Iyer channeled all his recent domestic circuit experience to score his 19th ODI fifty,

Harshit 3-53 India 251-6 (38.4 overs) Gill 87, Iyer 59; Mahmood 2-47 India won by four wickets; lead series 1-0 Scorecard England suffered another disappointing defeat in Brendon McCullum's first one-day international in charge as India won their series opener in Nagpur by four wickets.

The format changed, and so did most of the Indian team. But the outcome was the same, with England thumped in Brendon McCullum’s first one-day international as head coach.