 "India vs England ODI 2025: What Indian cricket team aim to gain ahead of Champions Trophy")
As India prepares to take on England in the three-match ODI series starting in Nagpur on Thursday, the stakes go beyond just another bilateral contest. This series serves as India’s only opportunity to fine-tune their squad and strategies ahead of the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 , which will be held in Pakistan and Dubai from 19 February. With selection dilemmas, fitness concerns, and the future of senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli under scrutiny, the series assumes heightened significance.
Rohit and Kohli under the scanner
Since the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where India suffered a shock defeat to Australia after an unbeaten campaign, Rohit and Kohli have played only one ODI series — a 2-1 loss in Sri Lanka in August last year. While Rohit showed glimpses of form with two fifties, Kohli endured an indifferent run. Furthermore, their recent slump in form in red-ball cricket, especially during the tour of Australia, has also raised questions about their long-term future in international cricket. However, with a change in colour of the ball, Ro-Ko are looking to regain their form.
Having already retired from T20Is after leading India to World Cup triumph last year, this ODI series could be a defining moment for the duo in 50-over cricket. The Champions Trophy remains one of the last big ICC events they might feature in, making this series crucial for them to prove their relevance in India’s evolving setup. During practice sessions in Nagpur, both players were observed focusing on improving their game, particularly on being more proactive against the spinners — an area they had struggled in during the last World Cup and in Sri Lanka.
The wicket-keeper dilemma: Rahul or Pant?
One of the key selection debates centres around India’s choice for the wicket-keeper’s slot. With Rohit and Shubman Gill likely to open, followed by Kohli with Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya in the middle order, the No 5 spot is expected to be contested between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
Rahul, India’s designated keeper during the 2023 World Cup, scored 452 runs with impressive consistency. His ability to anchor the innings makes him a reliable option, though his strike rotation in the middle overs has raised concerns. Pant, in contrast, brings explosiveness and a left-handed alternative to a predominantly right-handed top order. His ability to counterattack and dominate spinners makes him a potential game-changer. If both players are included, it could mean Iyer misses out, despite his solid World Cup performance of 530 runs in 11 matches.
Leading up to the Nagpur game, both Pant and Rahul were seen intensifying their keeping drills. Meanwhile, in the pre-match press conference, captain Rohit more or less confirmed that Rahul has performed well behind the stumps and is firmly in the mix to continue his role.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“KL has been keeping wickets for us in the ODI format for a number of years now. He has done pretty well. If you look at the last 10-15 ODIs, he has done exactly what the team required him to do,” he stated.
Bowling boost: Shami and Kuldeep’s return
The return of Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav from injuries strengthens India’s bowling lineup. Shami, who hasn’t played an ODI since the World Cup final, is set to lead the pace attack, particularly with Jasprit Bumrah missing from the series. Two days before the match, the pacer bowled intensely for almost 90 minutes in scorching 34-degree heat, showcasing good rhythm as he prepared for the series.
Kuldeep’s comeback is equally vital. The wrist-spinner was India’s trump card in the World Cup but hasn’t played since October. His ability to trouble England’s middle order could be a decisive factor. Meanwhile, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who impressed in the T20Is against England with 14 scalps in five games including a five-for in Rajkot, is in line for an ODI debut as India explores their spin options for the Champions Trophy.
Spin all-rounder conundrum
India’s selection dilemma extends to the spin all-rounder role. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar are all in contention, but who gets the nod remains to be seen. Jadeja, India’s first-choice in ODIs, hasn’t played since the World Cup final, while Axar and Sundar have been impressive in domestic and franchise cricket. Looking at the conditions and England’s vulnerability against spin, the Indian XI will likely be spin-heavy.
England’s road to redemption
England enter the series with a point to prove after back-to-back ODI series defeats against Australia and the West Indies. Their squad remains largely the same as the one that struggled in the T20Is, with Joe Root being the only major addition .
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In the press conference, Jos Buttler confirmed that he will bat at his usual No 3 position. Phil Salt is likely to keep wickets in the absence of Jamie Smith, who is recovering from a calf injury. The visitors will rely on their pace attack, led by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, while Adil Rashid remains their key weapon against India’s middle order.
The high-risk, high-gain approach of both teams
The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur has long been known as a batting-friendly venue in white-ball cricket. The red-soil pitch typically offers good bounce and carry, which will benefit both batting line-ups as they look to employ a high-risk approach, a strategy both skippers have confirmed ahead of the game.
“Look, there is a certain type of cricket that we want to play. We have to go and do what we did in the World Cup, we will try and do that,” Rohit stated, reflecting on Team India’s likely approach for this series and beyond.
#TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma is ready to take fresh guard ahead of the ODI series against England@IDFCFIRSTBank | @ImRo45 | #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/DJVZju0LOV
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 5, 2025
On the other hand, England’s captain Jos Buttler emphasised that his team would not shy away from their aggressive style of play, which had previously brought them white-ball success but failed them in the last 50-over World Cup, where they ended a disappointing seventh.
“We want to play in exactly the same way,” Buttler said during the press conference. “It’s really important that we stay on track and stay on course with the way we want to play and try to execute that to the best of our ability in these games. We believe that that’s the best way for us to win games of cricket and get the best out of the players in our dressing room.”
Meanwhile, with temperatures expected to hover in the mid-30s, the conditions could challenge the fitness of both teams, particularly the fast bowlers. Additionally, under lights, the wet ball may pose difficulties for the fielding captain.
Head-to-head in ODIs
India and England have faced off in 106 ODIs, with India leading the head-to-head record 58-44. The last time they met in a bilateral ODI series, India won 2-1 in England in July 2022.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja
England: Jos Buttler (c & wk), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wk), Mark Wood
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