Veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will shoulder the responsibility of reviving India’s confidence when they take on a buoyant England in the opening ODI of the three-match series in Birmingham on Tuesday.
With T20 cricket becoming more and more popular, Kohli, Rohit, and Jasprit Bumrah are back in the running to play the format in which bilaterals have been losing context and shine.
As they strive for an ODI World Cup swansong, the 39-year-old Rohit and the soon-to-be 38-year-old Kohli still have the fire in their bellies and the runs to show for their efforts.
It’s a different task to face Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer on tracks, which are hotter than sub-continental featherbeds. But throughout the years, the duo has destroyed enough English bowlers to understand what is expected of them.
However, given that the Indian team, led by new T20 captain Shreyas Iyer, lost all but one of its seven T20I games on the current tour, their attendance at this series is undoubtedly more important.
A game that was abandoned was the only one they managed to win. With the BCCI requesting a performance assessment, the 0-2 loss to Ireland and the 0-4 thumping by England have opened a Pandora’s Box.
In order to stop the rot, a team management that hasn’t exactly made things easier for the two modern-day legends will have to extend a warm welcome to them.
A victory in the ODI series would undoubtedly bolster confidence, but it would hardly make up for the shortcomings of the T20 team’s terrible performance.
With the return of captain Shubman Gill, another potent 50-over batsman, and the seasoned KL Rahul, the team now consists of a fantastic foursome of top-order hitters who have the ability to completely change any game.
The batting unit shouldn’t be a major worry until Shreyas Iyer is included. But even when Bumrah returns after a well-earned break, the bowling unit needs to undertake some real strategic thinking.
With his lengths on English tracks, Gurnoor Brar, India’s new fast bowling hope, will confront an entirely different test following an outstanding start against Afghanistan at home. As the left-arm seamer in the pack, Arshdeep Singh will undoubtedly provide dimension, while Shivam Dube—a forced selection because Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy are both injured—will be the fourth seamer at Edgbaston.
In both batting and bowling throughout the T20I series, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel were utterly disappointing. However, since they outscore Kuldeep Yadav, the team’s best spinner, on the basis of “better willow wielding” skills, they are unlikely to suffer any repercussions. Of the three, Kuldeep is by far the best spinner and the only one who can turn the ball when the pitch offers nothing.
India will benefit from the fact that England hasn’t played any 50-over cricket since January 27 while on an away trip to Sri Lanka. Although the high of a one-sided T20 series will keep England in excellent mental state, they will also need to get back into the groove for the format after playing a lot of T20 cricket and a few Tests (against New Zealand).
With Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell supplying the explosive firepower alongside Jos Buttler, Joe Root’s addition to the batting ranks will only deepen English hitting.
With extra overs at their disposal, Buttler and Brook would hope to send the Indian bowlers on another leather hunt after humiliating them in the final Twenty20 International in Southampton.
India vs England Head-to-Head:
India and England have faced each other in 110 ODIs, with India winning 61 matches and England 44, while three games ended in no result and two were tied.
India vs England Pitch Report:
Edgbaston is renowned for creating batting-friendly wickets with genuine bounce that facilitates stroke play, just like the majority of English venues. With the new ball, the seamers should see some movement in the early going. In the middle overs, however, spinners could see the occasional ball to turn.
India vs England Weather Report:
There is a moderate possibility of rain and cloud cover throughout the most of the day. Although a total washout seems improbable, brief disruptions brought on by passing showers cannot be completely excluded.
India vs England Probable XIs:
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh
England: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Adil Rashid
FAQs:
When is the 1st ODI between India and England scheduled?
The 1st ODI between India and England is scheduled on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
What time does the 1st ODI between India and England scheduled to start?
The 1st ODI between India and England will start at 3:30 PM IST.
Where is the 1st ODI between India and England scheduled to take place?
The 1st ODI between India and England is scheduled to be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Which TV channel will broadcast the 1st ODI between India and England?
The 1st ODI between India and England will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network.
Where can one catch the live streaming of the 1st ODI between India and England?
The live streaming of the 1st ODI between India and England will be available on Jio Hotstar.
