Washington Sundar credited head coach Gautam Gambhir for his improved batting performance after scoring a crucial half-century (52*) in India’s six-wicket victory over England in the first ODI at Edgbaston.

Walking in at No. 5 after captain Shubman Gill retired hurt on 80, Sundar shared an unbroken 102-run stand with Axar Patel (57*), guiding the visitors over the line with 28 balls remaining in the chase of 259.

Speaking after the match, Sundar expressed pride about being able to adapt to various situations in the batting order across formats.

In T20Is, the all-rounder has often been used as a finisher while he has batted as high as No. 3 in the Test format.

"The fact that I play different roles is exciting. Not many people get to play different roles. I get to play those different roles and be in those different situations. Obviously, I try my best to help the team win. As I said, it is exciting to be in different situations and different phases of the game," Sundar said in the post-match presser.

The southpaw explicitly credited Gambhir for transforming his confidence and unlocking his batting potential. He also extended gratitude to his Gujarat Titans coach, Ashish Nehra, for similarly helping him mature as both an individual and a cricketer.

"Gauti bhai always made me understand what exactly I could do with the bat, especially, and made me understand my game as well. Even Ashish Nehra at GT has always made sure... he has helped me understand myself a lot more, be it as a person or as a cricketer on the whole," Sundar stated.

Washing Sundar acknowledged that getting opportunities on consistent basis and clear communication had helped him grow.

"As an all-rounder, I think it is really important to keep looking to improve every single day, understand my game and, obviously, play according to the situation. Playing a lot of games also helps. You get to be in those situations, understand what exactly you can do, and you have a lot of learning as well.

"So yes, I am so grateful that I have got such people who have always had faith in my skill sets and also made me understand what exactly I could do with my different skill sets," he remarked.

Reflecting on his knock, Sundar said the Edgbaston wicket had "a little bit in it" and was not easy for batting.

"There was definitely a little bit in the wicket. Shubman batted really well, and that partnership with Shreyas Iyer was very, very important. Obviously, the way Axar played, he got those crucial boundaries every time they were needed and made things look very easy. We applied ourselves really well and were happy to have won this," he said.

Sundar had no information regarding the severity of Gill's injury after he retired hurt. "I have no idea," he replied when asked to share an update on the captain’s fitness status.

(With India Today Inputs)