MS Dhoni and Kriti Sanon steal the spotlight at India vs England ODI

The opening ODI between India and England at Edgbaston on Tuesday had plenty of star power off the field as former India captain MS Dhoni and Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon were spotted in the stands watching the match. The celebrity duo caught the attention of fans and broadcasters during England's innings, with visuals of Dhoni and Kriti quickly making the rounds on social media. Their appearance added to the buzz surrounding the series opener, which marked the return of several senior Indian players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah. While the cameras frequently panned towards the VIP stands, the action on the field also kept spectators entertained. England, who opted to bat first after winning the toss, looked set for a below-par total after collapsing from 61 without loss to 107 for six under relentless pressure from India's bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, returning after a six-week workload management break, produced a superb spell despite finishing with figures of 1 for 31. The pace spearhead bowled 36 dot balls and consistently troubled England's top order with his movement and bounce. Young left-arm seamer Gurnoor Brar claimed two wickets in the space of three deliveries, dismissing Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett, while Prasidh Krishna removed Jos Buttler and Sam Curran to leave the hosts reeling. However, Joe Root and Liam Dawson mounted a spirited recovery with a 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Root struck a composed 76, while Dawson registered a career-best 68 to steer England towards a competitive total. India eventually broke the stand through Axar Patel, who ran through the lower order to finish with career-best ODI figures of 4 for 62. His late burst ensured England were bowled out for 258 after threatening to post a much bigger score. Even as the contest unfolded on the field, Dhoni and Kriti Sanon's presence in the stands remained one of the biggest talking points among fans, adding a touch of glamour to the series opener at Edgbaston.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.