IND vs ENG: The India vs. England ODI series marks the beginning of an exciting white-ball contest between two top cricketing nations. With India playing at home, they will look to capitalize on familiar conditions, while England will look to bounce back after a disappointing T20 series, as they will prepare for the Champions Trophy under subcontinent conditions.
The series would be a great build-up for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE, with the series scheduled to kick off on February 6, 2025, in Nagpur. The three-match series will serve as a crucial battle for both teams.
Providing both India and England with an opportunity to test their squad combinations, this series will serve as a crucial platform for players to cement their places in the squad while teams focus on addressing key areas in the playing 11s.
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IND vs ENG: Here’s a predicted XI of India for the first ODI against England:
1: Rohit Sharma (C)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest white-ball openers, known for his impeccable timing, effortless six-hitting, and ability to play long innings. With three double centuries in ODIs, his experience still remains a strong foundation at the top.
2: Shubman Gill
Young opener Shubman Gill is a technically sound and elegant batter who thrives on timing rather than power. With a recent dip in form, he has faced serious competition from his competitor Yashasvi Jaiswal.
3: Virat Kohli
The GOAT of cricket, Virat Kohli, is India’s most consistent batter in ODIs, renowned for his chasing ability, aggressive stroke play, and supreme fitness. His ability to rotate strikes and accelerate when needed makes him the backbone of the batting lineup.
4: Shreyas Iyer
Consistent batter Shreyas Iyer is a fluent middle-order batter who is exceptional against spin, making him vital in the middle overs. He can play the role of an anchor and has the ability to accelerate with clean hitting, especially against pace.
5: Rishabh Pant
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is an aggressive left-handed batter capable of turning games around with his fearless stroke play. His unorthodox shots and ability to take on both spin and pace make him a dangerous middle-order option. Additionally, his wicketkeeping skills add value to the side.
6: Hardik Pandya
A genuine fast-bowling all-rounder, Pandya provides crucial balance to the team. He can bowl at speeds above 140 km/h, deliver breakthroughs in the middle overs, and is one of India’s most explosive finishers with the bat.
7: Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja is an invaluable three-dimensional player, contributing with left-arm spin, aggressive lower-order batting, and elite fielding. His accuracy in bowling and ability to finish innings with quick runs make him a key asset.
8: Varun Chakravarthy
Recently picked spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who replaced Jasprit Bumrah from India’s squad for the England ODIs after his stellar performance in the shortest format, caught the sight of selectors. Chakravarthy might be preferred over Axar, as India might not look to add any further depth to their batting lineup.
9: Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami is one of India’s most experienced pacers, known for his ability to move the ball both ways, extract seam movement, and bowl deadly yorkers in the death overs. His wicket-taking ability in powerplays is a huge advantage.
10: Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep is a left-arm pacer known for his ability to swing the new ball and deliver accurate yorkers at the death. His composure under pressure and ability to deceive batters with variations make him a promising fast bowler.
11: Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is India’s best wrist spinner in white-ball cricket with the ability to trouble batters with his flight, turn, and variations. His ability to break partnerships and pick wickets in the middle overs is crucial for India’s bowling attack.
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