Two weeks before the Champions Trophy, both teams navigate uncertainty Big Picture: A Battle of Two Eras Indian cricket finds itself at an intriguing crossroads. On one hand, there’s the India of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli—an era defined by dominance but now carrying the weight of scars and uncertainty. On the other, a new…
Big Picture: A Battle of Two Eras
Indian cricket finds itself at an intriguing crossroads.
On one hand, there’s the India of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli—an era defined by dominance but now carrying the weight of scars and uncertainty. On the other, a new India is rising, one that has thrived in the post-Rohit, post-Kohli landscape, particularly in the shortest format of the game.
These three ODIs against England offer a rare moment for the 50-over format to take center stage. India, still led by Rohit and Kohli in ODIs, must prove if they can replicate the magic of their dominant 2023 World Cup run. However, the challenge lies in the fact that this team hasn’t played together in this format since August, when they suffered an unexpected 2-0 series loss to Sri Lanka.
England, too, finds itself at a crossroads. This is still the England of Jos Buttler and Joe Root, but neither has played a single ODI in 2024. After a disappointing World Cup campaign last year, they are still searching for stability in the format.
With the Champions Trophy just around the corner, both teams have more questions than answers.
Form Guide
India: LLTWL (Last five completed ODIs)
England: LWLLW
Spotlight: Hardik Pandya & Joe Root
While Rohit and Kohli will naturally draw attention, no player is more crucial to India’s Champions Trophy hopes than Hardik Pandya. His absence in the latter stages of the 2023 World Cup exposed India’s lack of balance, particularly in the bowling department. If he can return to full fitness and handle the workload of an all-rounder, India will regain its crucial sixth bowling option.
For England, Joe Root’s return is significant. Since England’s early exit from the 2023 World Cup, he has been absent from ODI cricket. However, captain Jos Buttler remains confident in Root’s ability to anchor the side.
“He’s one of the great players of the game. I look at what he’s done in Tests since stepping down as captain—he’s got that cheeky smile back, enjoying his cricket. I expect him to do the same in ODIs,” Buttler said ahead of the series.
England has struggled to find the right batting tempo in ODIs, and Root’s experience could provide the stability they need.
Team News: England Rest Mark Wood
India is expected to retain its World Cup-winning top six, with only the wicketkeeper’s slot undecided. Rishabh Pant could be preferred over KL Rahul due to his left-handed advantage. Given Nagpur’s spin-friendly conditions and large boundaries, India may opt for three spinners, with Kuldeep Yadav partnering two of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, or Washington Sundar.
India (probable XI):
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul / Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
7 & 8. Two of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar - Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Shami
England has confirmed their XI, with Mark Wood rested. Saqib Mahmood will partner Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse in the pace attack, while part-time spinners Liam Livingstone, Joe Root, and Jacob Bethell will play supporting roles in the bowling unit.
England (XI):
- Ben Duckett
- Phil Salt (wk)
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jacob Bethell
- Brydon Carse
- Jofra Archer
- Adil Rashid
- Saqib Mahmood
Pitch & Conditions
Nagpur is expected to offer warm, clear conditions with temperatures in the low 30s. The surface has traditionally assisted spinners, and with its long boundaries, slower bowlers could play a decisive role. The last three ODIs here, all against Australia, have seen India win—most memorably with Virat Kohli’s blistering century in a 351-run chase in 2013.
Stats & Trivia
- Both India (2-3) and England (4-7) have negative ODI win-loss records since the 2023 World Cup.
- Virat Kohli is just 94 runs away from 14,000 ODI runs. Only Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) and Kumar Sangakkara (14,234) have more.
- Mohammed Shami needs five wickets to reach 200 in ODIs.
- Since the 2023 World Cup, Buttler has played 23 matches (20 T20Is, 3 ODIs), while Root has played only Test cricket.
Quotes
Rohit Sharma on India’s ODI return:
“The World Cup was a long time ago. We need to regroup, reset, and pick up from where we left off. It might take time, but that’s part of the process.”
Jos Buttler on England’s approach:
“The teams in the World Cup final played a positive, aggressive brand of cricket. We need to do the same. This is a great part of the world to play attacking cricket, and we’re looking to emulate that style.”
As India and England step into the ODI format once again, this series will provide crucial insights into their readiness for the Champions Trophy. Will Rohit and Kohli reassert their dominance, or will Buttler and Root guide England toward a resurgence? The answers begin in Nagpur.