“After the ICC World Cup 2023, we only played three ODIs as a group. We didn’t get a long run… If you do that, it won’t be possible to build a consistent team,” Shubman Gill said, summing up India’s dilemma in the build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Indian cricket fans have been itching for some ODI action on home soil, and the 14-month drought is about to end. When India takes on England in Nagpur, it’ll be a moment of reckoning—a chance to put the World Cup final heartbreak against Australia behind them and start fresh for the Champions Trophy.
With only three ODIs left before the Champions Trophy, every match is a high-stakes affair. The Indian team will be eager to use this series as a warm-up, a dress rehearsal of sorts, to fine-tune their skills and strategies before the big event. The Nagpur crowd will be electric. The city will host the opening ODI on February 6.
IND vs ENG to give Champions Trophy blueprint
India’s three-match ODI series against England is more than just a tune-up for the Champions Trophy – it’s a crucial dress rehearsal that will reveal the blueprint for their campaign in Dubai. The playing XI for the first ODI will offer a glimpse into India’s strategy, and with a star-studded squad featuring the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, the real interest lies in the team’s all-rounders and bowling attack.
Uncertainty on bowling attack
One key area of focus will be the role of left-handed batters Washington Sundar and Rishabh Pant, who could potentially break up the string of right-handers in India’s top order. Axar Patel’s position will also be under scrutiny as India seeks to strike a balance between spin-bowling all-rounders. The toss-up between the five spinners—Jadeja, Axar, Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy—will also be looked at.
In the pace-bowling department, Mohammed Shami’s return to ODI cricket after a year-long absence will be closely watched, particularly with Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the series and Mohammed Siraj not included in the squad. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh, fresh from a stellar T20I series in South Africa, has a golden opportunity to establish himself as a frontline pacer in this format too. The next few matches will be a fascinating insight into India’s plans for the Champions Trophy.\
What about Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli?
Despite being the backbone of India’s batting for over a decade, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli find themselves under scrutiny yet again. Their struggles in red-ball cricket against Australia, coupled with unremarkable outings in the Ranji Trophy, have put them under questions. But, now we are talking about ODI cricket—a format that both Kohli and Rohit have dominated like anything.
Nagpur has been a happy hunting ground for both. Kohli and Rohit have amassed a combined 529 runs in just eight ODI innings here, with three centuries and two half-centuries between them. The hard, fresh surface at the VCA Stadium presents the perfect opportunity for the duo to reassert their ODI prowess. India would be desperate for these two stalwarts to regain form just before the ICC Champions Trophy.
Most ODI runs since 2023 for IND ft. Rohit
| Player | Inns | Runs | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 32 | 1641 | 58.60 | 102.88 | 5 | 9 | 185 | 41 |
| Virat Kohli | 27 | 1435 | 65.22 | 98.42 | 6 | 8 | 130 | 24 |
| Rohit Sharma | 29 | 1412 | 52.29 | 119.35 | 2 | 11 | 149 | 75 |
| KL Rahul | 26 | 1091 | 60.61 | 87.07 | 2 | 7 | 95 | 18 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 22 | 884 | 46.52 | 111.75 | 3 | 4 | 74 | 32 |
Shami’s Fitness: A major talking point
The elephant in the room is Jasprit Bumrah’s injury, and the ripple effect it has on India’s pace attack. Mohammed Shami’s fitness has become a pressing concern too. Shami’s last ODI appearance was in the World Cup final, and since then, he’s been battling injuries. With Bumrah’s Champions Trophy availability still uncertain, India desperately needs Shami to be at the top of his game. Rohit, the captain, has asserted that Shami is yet to be at his best but has asked fans not to judge his progress too quickly.
Shami’s past record against England captain Jos Buttler is impressive, having dismissed him five times in nine ODIs. However, it’s not just about his skills, but also his ability to withstand the workload. If Shami can prove his fitness, it would be a massive relief for India’s management. But if he’s not up to the task, India will need to rethink their pace options, with Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya likely to take on additional responsibility.
For England, it’s about bouncing back from a disappointing T20I series and proving their mettle in the 50-over format. With India’s track record of not losing an ODI series at home to England since 2002, history is against the visitors. They will have to pull their socks up, especially when facing spin.
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