 "Both Ben Stokes and Joe Root last played an ODI during England's final match of the 2023 ICC World Cup, against Pakistan in Kolkata. Reuters")
Senior batter Joe Root returned to the One-Day International format while Test captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out due to concerns over his fitness as England announced their squads for the upcoming limited-overs tour of India as well as the ICC Champions Trophy. Both Root and Stokes had made their last ODI appearances during the ICC World Cup in India last year, in which the defending champions had failed to reach the semi-finals after finishing seventh in the 10-team table.
While former all-formats captain Root is set for an ODI comeback, 33-year-old star all-rounder Stokes was not considered after damaging a hamstring during England’s defeat by New Zealand in the third Test in Hamilton earlier this month.
“Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes was not considered for selection as he continues to be assessed following a left hamstring injury sustained,” said an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement.
Stokes did not bat in the second innings of that match as England slumped to a 423-run defeat – a result that meant his side still won a three-match series 2-1.
He previously missed this year’s home series against Sri Lanka and the first Test in Pakistan due to hamstring issues.
With England facing a five-match Test series at home to India starting in June before their pinnacle 2025/26 Ashes tour of Australia, team management have decided against risking inspirational red-ball skipper Stokes.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsBesides Root, fast bowler Mark Wood, who missed the recent Test tours of both Pakistan and New Zealand with a bone-stress injury to his right elbow, is in both squads.
The India series and Champions Trophy will mark England’s first limited-overs tour and tournament under coach Brendon McCullum, previously just in charge of the Test side.
Buttler stays as captain
Jos Buttler, who missed the recent ODI series against the West Indies with a calf injury, remains captain of the two white-ball teams despite England surrendering both their 50-over and T20 world titles since November 2023.
But it is possible the dashing batsman, replaced as skipper in the Caribbean by all-rounder Liam Livingstone, may not keep wicket, as he has for much of his limited-overs career.
Both the ODI squad for the India tour and the Champions Trophy, as well as the squad for five T20s in India in January, feature two other wicketkeepers in Test gloveman Jamie Smith, who missed the New Zealand series to attend the birth of his first child, and Phil Salt.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old rising star Jacob Bethell, who marked his debut Test series with three fifties in New Zealand, is included in both squads.
Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed joins the T20I squad, while Root is selected only for the ODIs.
The tour party leaves for India on 17 January, with the first match of a five-game series against T20 world champions India in Kolkata on 22 January.
India and England will then play a three-match ODI series, in preparation for the Champions Trophy, starting in Nagpur on 6 February.
Match dates for the Champions Trophy, which also features Pakistan as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, have yet to be announced, with the tournament due to run from 19 February to 9 March.
England ODI squad for India tour and 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan:
Jos Buttler (capt/wkt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wkt), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wkt), Mark Wood
Note: Rehan Ahmed to join squad for T20 series in India with Root not involved.
With AFP inputs