IND vs ENG: Joe Root's 99 not out takes hosts to easy win

Oh no.. Atkinson, what have you done here? He pulls one from Prasidh Krishna, and it goes for a four. That means, England win, and JOE Root will remain on 99 not out. England level in the series 1-1, and all credit to Root and England bowlers.

IN the end, this would be considered an easy win for the hosts. India were definitely 20-30 runs short, and had they played their 50 overs, the sitaution would have been different.

There is not much left in this match. A lot of boundaries coming now, and Root is on the verge of his ton. Bumrah comes for his final over.

Gill should have brought Bumrah at least 5 overs back, and it is too late now. They need a cluster of wickets. Otherwise Root and Jacks look very confident. And finally the 72-run stand has been broken by Brar. He removes Jacks and England 6 down.

Last two overs, Root and Jacks sense they are closing in. The Indian shoulders are dropping, which is not a great sign. Gill has to get in Bumrah now, or India is losing convincingly.

An excellent 50-run partnership between Root and Will Jacks comes up. And they have run really hard. In fact, Root gets a boundary after 50 deliveries. Just shows how comfortable they have felt.

Nothing seems to be happening in the match. This is the period where England are more than happy to only get singles, and the Indians are also not getting any wickets. This will be easy for the hosts.

Joe Root stands between India and a win, so they need to get him soon. Still, a couple of wickets and India will be the favorites to win. But this is getting really tight right now. And they don't have enough bowlers.

The match seems to have come to a standstill. No runs seem to be coming, and the wickets also have dried up for now. Perhaps, a part-timer should be brought in. But they don't have any batter, who can roll his arm over.

Dube has filled in for Washi quite well until now. Also has had a wicket. Perhaps it is time now to get Bumrah again for a couple of overs, or maybe end his quota. If he can pick up a couple...

Root has ensured that the scoreboard is ticking and England are moving closer to the total. Now, a couple of wickets have to come, and that is when the English will feel the pinch.

Axar has been bowling well, considering India have only one spinner at their disposal. Washi Sunar is out injured, in fact out of the series. This is not a good news.

Axar has clean bowled Buttler and once again India are back in the match. So far, it hangs in balance. But spinners will come into play now. They can reduce the pace of the match substantially.

There is a bit of chatter going on between Root and Prasidh here. The Indian tries to get under the skin of the batter. But then something has to come India's way soon.

Buttler is taking the attack to the Indian bowlers. He realises that if boundaries don't come, it would be difficult for them to win this match. Prasidh, meanwhile has been good. Not leaking a lot of runs though.

Dube gets another over, and thank god for that. Dube bowls one outside the off stump and Curran prods at it. He gets an outside edge and Ishan Kishan takes an excellent catch there. India back in the match.

India have to somehow get the wicket of Joe Root, who has once again managed to soak all the pressure. Sam Curran has been batting freely as well. So, that does not look good for the visitors for now.

Surprise, Surprise. Gill has brought in Shivam Dube into the attack. Maybe there is something in the wicket for him as well. He can be a decent option, some more trust needs to be shown on him.

India could do with some off spinners by Axar Patel. He ended up picking 4 wickets in the last match. And wickets is what India need to win. They are not defending a big total anyways. Bumrah is done with 6 now.

Once again, Gill smells an opportunity to get ahead in the game and he introduces Bumrah. Sam Curran is the next batter in and Brar is continuing from the other end. India need more wickets now.

Brar has his man. Similar delivery to the one that hit him on the helmet. Brook wasn't able to play the tall Indian pacer and tried to scoop him again but this one takes the edge and Kishan takes an easy catch. India are on top now.

Got him! 🔥#GurnoorBrar dismisses the England captain at a crucial moment to put the match back in the balance.#ENGvIND 2nd ODI 👉 Streaming LIVE on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/OLKrKfxnBj

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 16, 2026

In the meantime, Brook has been hit on the helmet while trying to put Gurnoor Brar under pressure by scooping him. The ball was around chest high and Brook got himself in a tangle. He undergoes the mandatory concussion test and is fine to continue.

In other news, reports suggest Rohit Sharma will retire from international cricket on July 19. Read more about it here. 

Bumrah and Prasidh have both bowled no balls in the last 2 overs. As a result, India have leaked 19 runs. England are back in the game with Brook and Root scoring 31 off 26 together.

This is testing stuff from India. Root is all over the place against Bumrah and Brook can't handle Prasidh's bounce and immaculate lines. He's trying to run at him and plays his shots but hasn't been able to yet. Prasidh has hit him twice already. 

It's been masterful from Bumrah and Prasidh. The latter has sent Jacob Bethell back with a great ball in the channel. Much like what Bumrah did. Prasidh was troubling the batters with his bounce and this delivery is back of the length and close enough for Bethell to prod at it. He feathers the ball to Kishan.

#Prasidh pic.twitter.com/8T7AHO9BgZ

— Ghanshyam Shukla (@gsshukla5) July 16, 2026

Prasidh Krishna followed Bumrah with a maiden over and even troubled Joe Root a bit with his movement and bounce. Ishan Kishan thought Jacob Bethell was out in a similar manner to Duckett but Shubman Gill and Bumrah weren't interested. He then almost had him LBW with a vicious yorker.

Jasprit Bumrah has struck on the first ball. Ben Duckett got lucky several times in Birmingham but he edged the ball to the wicketkeeper on the first ball in Cardiff. India is off to the best possible start.

Once again, Bumrah started from over the wicket and tried to take the ball away from the angle. Duckett tried to defend on the 5th stump and managed nothing but an edge. 

You just can't keep him out of the game. 🔥#JaspritBumrah gives India the perfect start, sending #BenDuckett back. #ENGvIND 2nd ODI 👉 Streaming LIVE on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/EeGJaTLPJu

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 16, 2026

Atkinson bowls a length delivery and Iyer just tries to guide it. HE edges and is caught behind for 66 from 71. Poor dismissal again. And all out. Prasidh swings his bat and India have been bowled out for 233. Pacers pick up 8 wickets together.

What has gotten into Bumrah here? He hits Saqib Mahmood for three fours and a six here. 18 runs in the over, and the score is looking a lot better. This man can do anything. Iyer meanwhile is ducking and blocking. Still 7 overs left.

Iyer did not run when he was batting with Brar, but now with Bumrah, he has exposed him the very 1st delivery. Questionable choices has been the problem i this entire innings.

Saqib Mahmood has a wicket now. The bowler bowls it in the slot and Brar tries to hoick it over covers. But he is caught. He is out for 7 and India lose 8 wickets now. It has been a poor batting show.

Can India survive the entire 50 overs here? That will be a challenge considering how slow things have been moving.. Brar needs to be trusted more, and Iyer needs to come up with something special. A barrage of short balls coming, and Brar is putting his body on the line here.

India have been poor

From 178/3 to 193/6 😷

Axar Patel got out on 1 (5) pic.twitter.com/mdOEpOlc9E

— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) July 16, 2026

What are the Indian batters doing? Archer is bowling short, and the batters are resorting to playing stupid shots. A short one, and Axar tries to guide it over the keeper's head. Instead he edges it and the ball goes into the hands of the keeper. What is even happening here? Dube plays one back to Archer, the first delivery. And he is caught. Out for a duck.

Kohli never out of form

Virat Kohli in the last 9 ODI innings:

74*, 135, 102, 65, 93, 23, 124, 5, 65. pic.twitter.com/TXKSMGLwiA

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 16, 2026

Iyer pulls Archer for a six to bring up a 50 in 42 deliveries. He has batted well, but now the onus has increased since he is the main batter left in the order. He needs to take the side past 300.

Saqib Mahmood bowls one short to Washi and he tries to pull. Instead he edges, and is caught by the keeper. This is shoddy batting, and Now getting to 270-280 will be a task. India 5 down.

Oh no. This is the most dreaded event that every Indian cricket fan has to go through. Archer bowls one short, and Kohli tries to flick. But the ball rises sooner than expected. Leading edge, and Kohli has been caught out for 65 from 66 by Adil Rashid.

One knows how good Iyer is against spinners, and the way he has batted against Adil Rashid... as we say this, he slams him for a six over long on. Rising in confidence, and India must be eyeing 320 from here on.

Will Jacks is more than a part-time bowler. He has been bowling those tight lines and has looked the best bowler for England today. But this is the time, he could be hit for a few runs. Kohli and Shreyas are well set here.

Shreyas, even though batted well in the T20Is, could be feeling the pinch as India lost the T20I series under him. So, if he can get a big one, he might just get a ton of confidence here. He is already batting on 25, and is doing well.

Virat Kohli hits his 78th ODI half-century off 50 balls and the milestone comes from a straight drive boundary. The man had just one bad day in Birmingham, but that was it. Kohli is averaging nearly 73 in 2026, with his 2nd fifty in 5 innings, apart from a century. 

Virat Kohli in 2026

• 50 off 51 vs England
• 5 off 6 vs England
• 124 off 108 vs New Zealand
• 23 off 29 vs New Zealand
• 93 off 91 vs New Zealand

England's short ball ploy has begun working now. Sam Curran bowled short, and as Ishan Kishan tried to go for the pull, the ball hit the cue end of the bat for an easy catch to the bowler. India lose two quick wickets as Ishan falls for 1 off 8. Shreyas Iyer comes to the crease.

Not Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan comes in at No.4. He has got a rare chance with KL Rahul missing out due to an illness. 

He never looked comfortable in his 47-ball 26-run stay, and as he tries to sweep Will Jacks, the ball takes an edge for Jos Buttler to take an easy catch. India lose their 2nd wicket for 104. This was his slowest knock in ODIs.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bring up their 50-run stand off 47 balls, and India are in command. Kohli has been the dominant one with 29 runs off 26 balls in this stand.

India are motoring along well with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli taking charge of the proceedings. Their stand is approaching 50, as India score 91/1 in 15 overs.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bring up 8000 runs together. They are only the second Indian pair after Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar to score 8000 runs in partnerships. 

Most partnerships run in international matches

• 13368 - Sanga/Mahela
• 12400 - Ganguly/Sachin
• 11688 - D Haynes/Greenidge
• 11037 - M Attapattu/S Jayasuriya
• 8389 - M Hayden/R Ponting
• 8103 - T Dilshan/Sanga
• 8018 - K Williamson/R Taylor
• 8000 - Rohit/Virat

India have their first six of the match, and who else but Rohit Sharma. He took on Gus Atkinson with a signature pull, and sent it over the boundary rope for a six. That should give him his confidence back.

Virat Kohli has looked in sublime touch so far, and with his signature cover drive and straight drive, he has shown that. India are 61/1 after 10 overs. Rohit Sharma needs to get a move on now

Virat Kohli, with a signature straight drive against Jofra Archer, goes off the mark. India would look for runs from him.

Virat Kohli joins Rohit Sharma on the crease. Both did not have a good start in Birmingham, and they would like to change that.

India lose their captain Shubman Gill for 30. He looked in great touch, and he is disappointed, as he smashes it straight to the fielder inside the circle off a Gus Atkinson delivery. India 44/1.

Sqib Mahmood goes for 12 runs as Shubman Gill hits him for two fours and three runs.

The first five overs are gone, and India are 30/0. Both Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma had some ifs and buts in their shots with extra bounce on the pitch. Jofra Archer started well, before conceding two boundaries against Shubman.

Rohit Sharma gets a lifeline early. He pulled Jofra Archer but did not have great timing, and Gus Atkinson could not reach underneath the ball, which hit his hand and went for a four.

First boundary for India and it comes from Shubman Gill's bat. Saqib Mahmood bowled full, on the pads, and Gill flicked it through mid-wicket for a four.

After 11 off 21, Rohit Sharma would want to get back to form. He looked rusty in Birmingham. Shubman Gill was fluent in his 80 off 75 balls before he had to retire hurt with cramps. But he seems fine and he would look to get to triple digits. But it won't be an easy start for India with the grass and moisture on the surface.

England made two changes, adding some extra seam power. Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood came back in place of Liam Dawson and Josh Tongue. 

Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood

India were forced to make one change with KL Rahul missing out due to an illness. Ishan Kishan returned in his place. 

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna

England captain Harry Brook and India skipper Shubman Gill walk towards the middle. Brook flips the coin, and Gill calls it incorrectly. Brook opts to bowl first with some grass and moisture on the pitch.

As for England, they have played ODIs like an eighth-ranked team in the last two years. Since the World Cup 2023, England have lost 20 of 30 ODIs, and the shake-up with Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum coming in has not changed the results. England need to get back to winning form, but their batters' approach of playing T20 cricket in ODIs has scripted their downfall more often than not. Joe Root has been an exception, as he showed in Birmingham with an unbeaten 76. But the others need to drop the T20 act and play the format as they should.

The story of this series so far is that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not delivered. And as long as the two continue to play, the axe will always be there on their heads, especially on Rohit. In a way, selectors would want Rohit to fail so that they can get Yashasvi Jaiswal in. And to prevent that, Rohit needs to shut them all down by scoring a ton of runs. Not that he has not been scoring. He has two centuries and four fifties since 2025. But in 2026, that scoring form has dipped to a 30.71 average and a strike rate of 95.55 in 2026. He has just one 50+ score this year. That’s exactly what could see him fall. His ultra-defensive approach at the start has not helped him.

As for Virat Kohli, he can relax for now. He has averaged 61.25 in 2026 in four innings, and the failure in Birmingham is not a big concern. But if his stay on the crease continues to be brief, questions will arise once again. In short, both need to score runs and keep scoring them until the 2027 World Cup. A win will also help Shubman Gill claim his ODI series win as captain overseas.

Sophia Gardens tends to produce a fair contest between bat and ball, with fast bowlers finding some swing and seam in the first ten overs before the pitch settles down. Spin becomes a bigger factor as the match wears on and the surface slows, so both Kuldeep Yadav and England's Adil Rashid could have a say in the middle overs.

The numbers strongly favour chasing here. Across 33 completed men's ODIs at this ground, teams batting second have won 21 to the 8 wins for sides batting first, a chase success rate of nearly 64 per cent. The average first-innings score is 223, with teams generally targeting 270 to 280 to feel secure, while the average second-innings score sits lower at 209, since chasing sides have often paced things out carefully rather than needing to be spectacular. The pitch has produced huge scores before too, including England's 386 against Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup and a 312-run chase against West Indies last year.

Given how heavily conditions and history favour the team bowling first, the toss at Cardiff could matter more than at most venues on this tour.

India have a small but great record at this ground. Across four completed ODIs, India have won three of them, losing only one. Across formats, India hold a 3-2 record at this venue. 

The wins have all come at major tournaments. In the 2013 Champions Trophy group stage, India beat South Africa by 26 runs, with Shikhar Dhawan's maiden ODI century and a Rohit Sharma fifty setting up the total. Days later, in the semi-final at the same ground, India dismantled Sri Lanka by 8 wickets, chasing 182 in just 35 overs behind Dhawan's 68 and an unbeaten 58 from Kohli. And on India's last visit here in 2014, Ravindra Jadeja's 4 for 28 bowled England out for 161 after Suresh Raina's century and half-centuries from Rohit and MS Dhoni had set up 304 for 6, sealing a 133-run win.

Format	Result	Margin	Bat	Opposition	Date
ODI	lost	6 wickets	1st	England	16 Sep 2011
ODI	won	26 runs	1st	South Africa	6 Jun 2013
ODI	won	8 wickets	2nd	Sri Lanka	20 Jun 2013
ODI	won	133 runs	1st	England	27 Aug 2014
T20I	lost	5 wickets	1st	England	6 Jul 2018