Bethell rescues seagull hit By Iyer's shot in ENG vs IND ODI

India and England are facing each other in the second ODI of the three-match series at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Both teams are aiming to put in a strong performance as they look to gain the upper hand in the series.

A rare moment grabbed everyone's attention during the match when Shreyas Iyer's shot accidentally hit a seagull on the field. England's Jacob Bethell immediately rushed over to rescue the injured bird before it was safely taken away. The heartwarming gesture quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising Bethell for his kindness and sportsmanship.

India crossed the 100-run mark comfortably after being asked to bat first. However, the visitors lost Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Ishan Kishan in quick succession, slowing their momentum. Virat Kohli steadied the innings with a fine half-century, while Shreyas Iyer added a valuable 66 off 71 balls.

Watch the viral video here:

What happened at Sophia Gardens? Ball strikes seagull mid-over, forcing a rare stoppage in play

A rare incident took place during the second ODI between India and England at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff when Shreyas Iyer's shot struck a seagull on the field. The moment occurred on the third ball of the 33rd over, bowled by England pacer Saqib Mahmood. Iyer drove a length delivery through the cover region, but the ball hit the bird before reaching the boundary, forcing a brief stoppage in play.

As the ball lost its pace after hitting the seagull, Shreyas Iyer and Washington Sundar managed to complete only one run. England opener Jacob Bethell immediately ran towards the injured bird, gently picked it up with both hands, and handed it to a steward near the boundary rope. His thoughtful gesture was warmly applauded by the crowd and quickly went viral on social media.

According to the Laws of Cricket, play usually continues if the ball accidentally hits an animal on the field unless the umpires decide to stop the game. There is no rule that awards extra runs in such situations. The batting side only receives the runs it is able to complete before the fielding team returns the ball.

Iyer shows good touch with the bat after a poor T20I series as India's batting wobbles to 233

Shreyas Iyer returned to form with a timely knock in the second ODI against England at Sophia Gardens. After a disappointing T20I series, where his batting came under criticism, Iyer responded with a composed 66 off 71 balls. Batting at No. 5 after Ishan Kishan was promoted for the left-right combination, he remained calm and played a key role in helping India post a competitive total.

India's innings got off to a solid start, but the middle order collapsed as the team lost four wickets for just 15 runs. Virat Kohli top-scored with a fluent 65, while Shubman Gill made 31. Rohit Sharma struggled for rhythm, scoring 26 off 47 balls. England's bowlers impressed, with Jofra Archer taking 3 wickets, while Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood also made important breakthroughs as India were bowled out for 233.

India responded well with the ball as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Ben Duckett with the first delivery of England's innings. At the time of writing this article, Prasidh Krishna then removed Jacob Bethell cheaply, leaving England at 8/2 in the chase of 234. India entered the match with a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, and another victory would seal the series in their favour.

Fans react as heartwarming moment steals the spotlight from India's 233 all out in Cardiff

While India's batting performance remained the main talking point early in the match, a touching moment involving England's Jacob Bethell quickly stole the spotlight. After Shreyas Iyer's shot accidentally struck a seagull on the field, Bethell rushed over, gently picked up the injured bird, and handed it to a steward near the boundary.

The incident was widely shared across social media, with fans praising Bethell for his kindness and quick response. Many called it one of the most heartwarming moments of the match, while others appreciated the respect and care shown towards the injured bird. Here is how the netizens reacted:

The emotional moment overshadowed India's total of 233, which was built around useful contributions from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. As clips of Bethell's gesture went viral, cricket fans from both countries applauded the England all-rounder for his sportsmanship and humanity.