Along with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is also making his comeback to ODI cricket for the first time since India’s defeat in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. His return will provide a major boost to India’s bowling attack as the team looks to begin the series on a winning note.
The inclusion of Kohli and Bumrah in the playing eleven is expected to affect the chances of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan and Gurnoor Brar, who could be left out of the final lineup. With Kishan not featuring in the squad, KL Rahul is likely to take responsibility as wicketkeeper for the first ODI.
Bumrah, who was rested for the ODI series against Afghanistan as well as the T20I series against Ireland and England, will play his first ODI match in more than 950 days. He is expected to join Arshdeep Singh and Gujarat Titans pacer Prasidh Krishna in the pace department. Krishna enters the contest with confidence after claiming a five-wicket haul in his last ODI appearance against Afghanistan last month.
𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘬𝘦 𝘛𝘝 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘬𝘩𝘪𝘺𝘦 𝑹𝑶𝒀𝑨𝑳𝑻𝒀 𝒊𝒏 𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆! 💙👑
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 13, 2026
RoKo, Captain Gill and Bumrah are all set to light up the #ENGvIND ODI series.
Watch the 1st ODI tomorrow, 2:30 PM onwards, LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV… pic.twitter.com/XhoNBRslOc
India will also miss the services of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been ruled out of the series due to injury. The team management will have to choose between spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube as Pandya’s replacement in the playing eleven.
Indian T20I captain Shreyas Iyer is set to retain his place in the middle order after an impressive performance in the recently concluded T20I series. Despite India suffering a 4-0 defeat against England, Iyer emerged as the team’s leading run-scorer, scoring 218 runs in five innings at an average of 54.5.
Iyer was the second-highest run-scorer in the T20I series, finishing behind England captain Harry Brook. Brook scored 229 runs in four innings at an average of 114.5, leading England’s batting charge.
For England, all-rounder Jacob Bethell will open the innings alongside Ben Duckett in the ODI series. Bethell will become Duckett’s fifth different opening partner since the beginning of 2025. Jos Buttler, who scored a brilliant century in the fifth T20I match last week, will move down the batting order.
England will also strengthen their middle order with the return of experienced batter Joe Root, whose presence is expected to add stability and depth to the team’s batting lineup.
India’s probable playing eleven includes Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill as captain, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul as wicketkeeper, Shivam Dube or Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna or Gurnoor Brar.
England’s probable playing eleven includes Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook as captain, Jos Buttler as wicketkeeper, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue and Adil Rashid.
The opening ODI between India and England will mark the return of some of the biggest names in international cricket and will set the tone for a highly anticipated three-match series. With experienced campaigners back in action and both teams looking to strengthen their ODI combinations, the Birmingham contest promises to be a crucial battle for early momentum.
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