England were all over India in the T20I series but India bounced back in the first ODI with commanding win. I am backing the visitors to win again.
Key Stats - Kohli can be the Difference
- England’s Harry Brook has scored 39, 79* & 95* in his last 5 innings.
- England’s Joe Root top-scored with 76* in the 1st ODI against India.
- England’s Jofra Archer has figures of 3/29, 2/20, 1/41 & 1/60 in 4 matches.
- India’s Shubman Gill has scored 126, 84*, 154 & 80* in his last 4 innings.
- India’s Virat Kohli has scores of 58, 43 & 75* in his last 5 innings.
- India’s Prasidh Krishna has taken 5/23, 1/38 & 2/50 in his last 3 ODIs.
- India have won their last five ODIs against England
India Dominate ODIs
India lead 5-0 in their last five ODIs against England.
England Woeful ODI Form against India
England head into the second ODI needing a response after a six-wicket defeat in the series opener. Their batting struggled at Edgbaston, where they were limited to 258 after being asked to set a target. Joe Root stood firm with an unbeaten 76, while Liam Dawson added 68 as the pair shared a 121-run seventh-wicket stand, but the target they set still looked too little. England now move to Cardiff looking to level the series and force a decider at Lord’s.
Their ODI concerns remain clear. England lost a home series to India in 2022 and have won only two of their last 10 ODIs against them. Under Harry Brook, who led them well in the T20I series, this campaign is also part of their preparation for the 2027 Cricket World Cup. Since their 2019 World Cup triumph, England have struggled to consistently rediscover their best 50-over form.
Root remains the key batter after scoring three half-centuries and a century in his last four ODIs. Brook and Jos Buttler will also be important as England look for a win to level the series. England have won eight of 12 ODIs in Cardiff, including their most recent match there against West Indies, but they did lose to India at the venue in 2014.
India Finally Won
India arrive in Cardiff with renewed confidence after finally claiming a victory on this tour. They restricted England to 258 in the opening ODI and chased the target comfortably, with captain Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel all making half-centuries. India had lost Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli inside the powerplay, but Gill and Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with a 109-run partnership.
The win was important after India had gone through the tour without success, losing T20I series to both Ireland and England. In the 50-over format, however, they continue to hold a strong edge over England. India won their previous ODI series in England 2-1 and have lost only twice to England since the 2019 World Cup group-stage meeting. They have also won their last three matches in Cardiff.
India lead the recent head-to-head 8-2 across their last 10 meetings with England. Kohli remains one to watch as he closes in on 2,000 ODI runs against England and will be looking to add to his two centuries and five fifties in England. Gill’s excellent run in England continues, while Axar’s middle-over bowling and the new-ball work of Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna will be crucial.
England vs India Predicted Lineups & Team news
England will be deflated after their heavy defeat in the 1st ODI and without Virat Kohli hitting his stride. Jasprit Bumrah is back in the side and should be even more of a handful in the 2nd ODI, so England will need to bring their A-game to Sophia Gardens.
England (possible XI): Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson.
India (possible XI): Shubhman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna.