IND vs ENG: The Indian cricket team could not retain their exceptional form in recent ODIs, especially when they lost a bilateral ODI series in a humiliating fashion. Following their victorious campaign in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, India under their new coach have failed to impress with their performance.
The three-match ODI series between India and England begins on 6th February amid the buildup to the 2025 Champions Trophy; hence, India would be in the quest for a perfect squad for the CT.
Here’s India’s predicted Playing XI for the first ODI match vs. England in VCA Stadium, Nagpur
1: Rohit Sharma (C)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who failed to impress with the bat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, would be looking forward to continuing his ODI form ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The right-handed opener has over 10,000 runs in 257 innings, with an average of 49.16.
2: Shubman Gill
Indian youngster Shubman Gill, who started his ODI career on a bang, has been struggling since the last World Cup, where he had a humiliating campaign in CWC 2023. From 47 innings, Shubman Gill has scored 2,328 runs with an average of 58.20. The talented batter must deliver runs now as he strives to secure his spot in the team once again, with in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal in contention.
3: Virat Kohli
Widely regarded as the greatest batter in ODI cricket, Virat Kohli is set to return to his strongest format, where his consistency and match-winning abilities have led to his legendary career-defining fame. In 283 innings, he has a total of over 13,000 runs with an average of 58.18. The right-handed batter has scored 50 centuries in the 50-over format, which is the highest.
4: Shreyas Iyer
Despite solidifying his place at No. 4 during the 2023 World Cup, where he scored 530 runs, including a century in the semi-final, Shreyas Iyer lost his domestic contract. His sparkling fame in domestic leagues had led the selectors to reconsider him for the Champions Trophy. The middle-order batter has solid stats in ODI, with 2,421 runs from 57 innings.
5: Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant, the young wicketkeeper who has consistently been a presence in India’s Test and T20I squads, is now aiming to secure his spot in the ODI team as well, with competition for places intensifying.
6: Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya, who excelled for India in white-ball cricket, went on to be India’s most promising player and was a vital asset for India in the T20 World Cup-winning campaign. His contributions both as a batter and a bowler have impressed the fans and experts. He has been a crucial player for the Indian team in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20I World Cup.
7: Axar Patel/Ravindra Jadeja
One of the most underrated spin bowling all-rounders of Indian cricket, both Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are versatile players known for their accuracy and consistency with the ball. Jadeja is a left-arm spinner and a valuable asset in limited-overs formats.
8: Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is a key weapon in India’s bowling attack and is known for his deceptive left-arm wrist spin. He has the ability to break partnerships and take wickets at crucial junctures. Kuldeep’s variations in pace, along with his sharp googly and several variations, have often coined a potent threat in the middle overs.
9: Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh has emerged as a promising left-arm pacer for India in limited-overs cricket. After dominating the T20 format, Arshdeep, who was instrumental in India’s campaign in the T20 World Cup, will now be considered to be backed for the Indian side in the longer white-ball format as well.
10: Prasidh Krishna
Emerging from the ashes, veteran pacer Prasidh Krishna would be looking forward to making his return to the Indian team after playing the last match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs, especially with the new ball and during the death overs, makes him a valuable asset.
11: Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj has been a standout performer for India in recent years, especially in white-ball cricket. Though Siraj is expected to be rested for the shortest format of the game, he will be backed for the longest format, as the other pace options alongside Bumrah.
ALSO READ: IND vs ENG: A look at India’s predicted Playing XI for the first T20I vs England
