India have named their ODI squad for the upcoming tour of England. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are both included for the first time since January.
Kohli has been out with a hamstring injury he picked up during the IPL final last month. The BCCI said he will only be available for the series after getting the necessary fitness clearance.
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out completely. He hasn’t recovered from the injury he sustained during the IPL season with Mumbai Indians.
“I mean, it is a good kind of headache having all the players that are performing,” Gill said before the squad announcement. “We will see the squad and then we will have the best XI to put out anyway.”
Jasprit Bumrah is also returning to the squad for his first national assignment since the IPL. This will be his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup final, nearly three years ago.
India’s white-ball tour of Europe starts with two T20Is in Ireland, followed by five T20Is and three ODIs in England. The ODI series begins on July 14 at Edgbaston, with the second match in Cardiff on July 16 and the final one at Lord’s on July 19.
Hits and Misses of India ODI Squad for England Series
The Hits: Key Strengths of the Squad
The returns of Kohli and Bumrah
The biggest news is Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah both being back. Kohli missed the Afghanistan series with a hamstring injury. But he’s fit again and strengthens the batting lineup. Bumrah, who was rested for workload management, gives the pace attack a sharp edge. Both are clearly central to India’s World Cup plans.
A strong and varied pace attack
With Bumrah back, the pace battery looks dangerous. He joins Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm swing, the experienced Prasidh Krishna, young Harshit Rana, and promising Gurnoor Brar. That mix of pace, swing, and variety should work well in English conditions.
Spin depth and all-round options
The spin department is well-stocked with Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin and the left-arm spin of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s inclusion adds a seam-bowling all-rounder option. It gives the side better balance.
A settled leadership group
Shubman Gill continues as captain, with Shreyas Iyer as his deputy. That provides stability and a clear chain of command for a tough overseas tour.
The Misses: Surprising Omissions and Question Marks
Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped
This is the most controversial call. Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 110 in the series-clinching third ODI against Afghanistan. This was his second century in just six ODIs and still got left out.
The selectors went with experience instead, keeping Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the opening pair. Captain Gill called it a “good kind of headache to have” with so much talent available. But Jaiswal is the unlucky one who misses out despite performing. He’s become a victim of India’s incredible batting depth.
No Hardik Pandya or Ravindra Jadeja
Two experienced all-rounders are missing, and that’s a major talking point.
Hardik Pandya was ruled out because of an injury picked up while training. He couldn’t get full medical clearance, which opened the door for Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Ravindra Jadeja’s exclusion looks like a permanent move. The management seems to be looking beyond the veteran and fast-tracking younger players instead.
Siraj and Shami left out
The absence of Mohammad Siraj and Mohammed Shami signals a big shift in the bowling unit. Siraj’s exclusion suggests the management is looking at other options or managing his workload. Shami’s omission is more worrying. Some reports suggest he may have played his last game for India.
Other notable snubs
Ruturaj Gaikwad is another big miss. Despite a brilliant century for India A, he’s still stuck behind a packed top order. Rumors about Rohit Sharma being dropped are false. He is in the team after playing well against Afghanistan.
FAQs
Q. Who will captain India against England?
A. Shubman Gill will captain India.
Q. Why was Virat Kohli included with a condition?
A. Kohli must receive fitness clearance after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Q. Why is Hardik Pandya missing the England ODI series?
A. Pandya has not recovered from the injury he suffered during the IPL.
Q. Which senior players have returned to India’s ODI squad?
A. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah have returned.
Q. When does India’s ODI series against England begin?
A. The series begins on July 14 at Edgbaston.
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