IND vs ENG: Indian Cricket Team playing 11 for ODI series against England - Predicted

The three-match IND vs ENG ODI series will start on February 6 in Nagpur.

India continued their T20I winning juggernaut under Suryakumar Yadav by clinching the IND vs ENG T20I series.

Now, the attention will shift to Rohit Sharma’s ODI team as they take on Jos Buttler’s side in a three-match ODI series. The IND vs ENG ODI series will run from February 6 to 12, to be played in Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad.

India have retained the majority of the squad that featured in the World Cup 2023, where the hosts finished as the runners-up.

After that, India won an ODI series in South Africa with a second-string side but lost 0-2 in Sri Lanka despite the batting being at its full strength.

India will miss Jasprit Bumrah at least for the first two ODIs against England, and he’s unlikely to feature in the third ODI as well. The Men In Blue, though, have been boosted by the return of Mohammed Shami.

IND vs ENG: Indian Cricket Team predicted playing 11 for ODI series against England

1. Rohit Sharma (C)

While there are questions over his form and place in the Indian test team, there are no doubts over Rohit Sharma’s position in the ODI side. He’s been perhaps the best ODI opener in the world since 2013, and has unlocked the aggressive beast over the last couple of years.

After lighting up the World Cup 2023 with rapid starts, Rohit smacked 157 runs at a strike rate of 141 in the three ODIs in Sri Lanka last year on extremely spin-friendly surfaces.

One issue Rohit would want to address in the IND vs ENG ODI series is his inability to convert his starts into a big score consistently.

2. Shubman Gill

Right now, Shubman Gill is Rohit’s first-choice opening partner but he would be aware of the competition he is getting from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who’s earned a call-up for the England series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Against Sri Lanka, Gill managed only 57 runs in three knocks at a strike rate of only 61.

3. Virat Kohli

After a tough time in test cricket in the recent months, Virat Kohli would be returning to his best format – ODI cricket. The only man to amass over 700 runs in a single ODI World Cup, Kohli could muster only 58 runs in Sri Lanka in the three ODIs last year. He’d be itching to hit a breezy century soon.

4. Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer had a terrific time during the World Cup 2023, where he cemented himself in the No. 4 position by scoring 530 runs, which included a memorable century in the semi-final against New Zealand.

However, new head coach Gautam Gambhir shifted him down the order in the ODIs in Sri Lanka last year where he managed just 38 runs. With Rishabh Pant returning to the ODI setup, Iyer’s spot in the XI is now under threat.

5. KL Rahul (wk)/Rishabh Pant

After Pant’s car accident in December 2022, KL Rahul sealed the No. 5 and wicket-keeper’s position in the ODI team with a stellar show in the Asia Cup 2023 and the World Cup 2023, where he scored 452 runs. But Rahul’s place was also shuffled by Gambhir and Sri Lanka and he was dropped after two matches to include Pant.

Heading into the IND vs ENG ODI series, it’s uncertain who would be the first-choice keeper. Gambhir might even include both Rahul and Pant, who is a left-hander, and drop Iyer, which would be unfair and a step backwards for the ODI team as India had struggled for a long time with the No. 4 position.

6. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is one of India’s most important players in white-ball cricket as he is a high-quality pace-bowling all-rounder, a rare breed in Indian cricket. Pandya is in good nick with the bat and is a regular contributor with the ball.

He could even play as a third seamer in Dubai, where India will play their Champions Trophy matches. But against England, his role could be that of the fourth seamer.

7. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja was rested from the ODI series in Sri Lanka last year. His last ODI match was the World Cup 2023 final.

Jadeja’s performances in white-ball cricket in recent times haven’t been ideal. He remains a tidy bowler but not a consistent wicket-taker and his batting has certainly gone down a few levels.

Although right now Jadeja will pip over Axar for a spot in the ODI XI, the senior all-rounder needs to produce a match-winning performance soon.

8. Harshit Rana/Axar Patel

With Jasprit Bumrah injured, Harshit Rana is likely to make his ODI debut against England. On his T20I debut in Pune, he picked up three wickets and bowled very well against the England batsmen who were on the charge in a tall run-chase.

Depending on the nature of the pitches, Gambhir is likely to toss up between Harshit and Axar.

9. Mohammed Shami

In the IND vs ENG T20I series, Mohammed Shami made his comeback to international cricket after more than 14 months, and now he is in line to return to the ODI XI for the first time since the World Cup 2023 final.

More than his bowling returns, the selectors and management would be focusing on his fitness and how he pulls up after the ODI matches against England, where he will have to bowl 10 overs in a game. In Bumrah’s absence, Shami will straightaway have to be the leader of the bowling attack once again.

10. Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has recovered from a chronic left groin issue and made his comeback in the Ranji Trophy. He will now return to international cricket after missing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024/25.

During the World Cup, he took 15 wickets, and in Sri Lanka, he claimed four wickets at an economy of only 3.40.

11. Arshdeep Singh

With Bumrah absent, Arshdeep Singh is expected to share both the new ball and old ball with Mohammed Shami in the IND vs ENG ODI series.

Arshdeep has played eight ODIs so far, in which he’s taken 12 wickets. Arshdeep recorded a five-wicket haul in Johannesburg in the ODI series in December 2023, where he bagged the Man of the Series award.

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