NEW DELHI: As Team India begins its final preparations for the Champions Trophy, the three-match ODI series against England, starting Thursday, holds immense significance. With just weeks to go before the tournament in Pakistan and Dubai, Team India faces key questions regarding the form and fitness of its senior players, particularly captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Both stalwarts, who played pivotal roles in India’s 2023 World Cup campaign, have struggled in Tests since the final. Their underwhelming performances in the Ranji Trophy last month only added to concerns about their form. While Rohit managed two fifties in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, Kohli failed to make an impact. The England series presents an opportunity for both to regain rhythm in the format where they have historically excelled.
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Adding to India’s selection dilemmas is the wicketkeeper’s role, with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant competing for a spot. Rahul’s consistency in the 2023 World Cup was commendable, but his middle-over strike rotation remains a concern. Pant, on the other hand, provides left-handed variety and a power-hitting option. While both could feature in the XI, this might come at the expense of Shreyas Iyer, who remains a strong domestic performer.
The series will also mark the return of Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav from injuries. Shami has featured in recent T20s, while Kuldeep last played for India in October. Their performances will be crucial ahead of the Champions Trophy, especially with Jasprit Bumrah unavailable due to back issues.
India’s spin combination is another area of focus, with Varun Chakravarthy set for a potential debut following strong T20 performances. The team must also choose between Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar for the spin all-rounder’s role.
England, meanwhile, seek to recover from recent setbacks. Consecutive ODI series losses to Australia and West Indies have raised concerns about their 50-over form. Their squad remains largely unchanged from the T20 setup, with Joe Root as the only major addition. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith is expected to miss the first two ODIs due to a calf injury.
With both teams looking to fine-tune their combinations, the series serves as a crucial test before the Champions Trophy.
Squads
- India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
- England:
Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Philip Salt, Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
Match starts at 1:30pm IST.
