The recent debacle of the world number one test squad, India at England is already a history. But the guests seem to have risen back to the occasion by thumping Sussex by six wickets. They record their first win of the tour.

At Hove, on Thursday, Indians looked in control even though Sachin Tendulkar (21) did not last long as the other opener Parthiv Patel (55), Kohli (71) and Sharma (61 not out) played around against an average home attack. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma cracked half-centuries as India recorded their maiden win of the England tour with a six-wicket thumping victory against Sussex in a rain-affected practice game.

Put into bat, Sussex were 236 all out with R P Singh snaring four wickets but the Indians needed 235 to win due to the revised target under Duckworth-Lewis system. They won the match with elegance.

Even though speculations were on, over Gambhir's availability for the ODI series, is all but over following a clear MRI scan report, the left-hander was rested in the match. The ace bats man was reportedly suffering from blurred vision and was almost certain to miss out the day-night fixture against Kent on Friday.

The form of the guests seems to be encouraging and they are sure to avenge their defeat. The one-off Twenty20 match is scheduled to be held on August 31 while the first one-day international will be staged in Durham on September 3.