ENG vs IND: 5 Player battles to watch out for in the ODI series

After getting demolished by England in the T20I format, India will hope for a better showing in the upcoming three-match ODI series. The series will begin in Birmingham on July 14 and will then move to Cardiff on July 16, and the final ODI will be played on July 19 at Lord’s.

India is coming off a good ODI performance against Afghanistan and will have better reinforcements as well in the 50-over format. Expect some amazing performances from players of both teams, as several key matchups between bat and ball are expected to shape crucial moments.

Here are the 5 player battles to watch out for in the ENG vs. IND ODI series:

5. KL Rahul vs Will Jacks

KL Rahul has made himself the best middle-order batter in the world today, and he keeps it for India as well. He holds the Indian middle order together and has scored 3399 runs in 96 ODIs with 8 centuries and 29 fifties at an average of 50.73. His record in England is very good, with 370 runs in 11 games, at an average of 41.11, with the highest score of 111.

Will Jacks will give KL Rahul much of a headache given his brilliant off-spin. Jack has transformed himself into a proper all-rounder of late. He had lots of success in T20Is against Indian batters in recent series, and expect him to trouble the best of the best on the Indian team.

4. Jacob Bethell vs Kuldeep Yadav

Jacob Bethell has had a very slow start to his ODI career for England. He started his career in 2024 and has made 603 runs in 21 ODIs with one century and 5 fifties at an average of 33.50. He is one of the youngest England players to score a century in all formats of international cricket. He will be the force that powers England’s middle order in middle overs.

However, India has a good counter for Bethell in left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Yadav might be low on confidence at the moment, but don’t count him out, as he boasts a very good record in ODIs in England. He has 15 wickets, with the best of 6/25 in 10 games in England.

3. Virat Kohli vs Adil Rashid

Virat Kohli will be playing an ODI for India after more than six months, as he had missed the Afghanistan series due to an injury. He has 1349 runs in 33 ODIs in England with one century and 12 fifties at an average of 51.88. However, Kohli has a weakness against leg-spinners, and who better than Adil Rashid to exploit the same?

Everyone remembers how Adil Rashid had dismissed Kohli with a brilliant delivery in the 2018 ODI series in England. He has 18 wickets to his name in ODIs against India, with best bowling figures of 4/64. But the trump card for Harry Brook against Virat Kohli will be Rashid, as the two veterans will go at it once again.

2. Ben Duckett vs Jasprit Bumrah

Ben Duckett has taken to ODIs like a duck to water and has scored 1345 runs in 34 ODIs with 3 centuries at an average of 40.75. His best score is 165, and against India he has 165 runs in 3 games with one fifty. However, at home, Duckett is very dangerous, and India will need to get him out early.

Who better than to give India a very good start than Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah will be playing an ODI for India for the first time since the 2023 ICC World Cup final in November that year. Since then, he has focused only on Tests and T20Is. Bumrah has 30 wickets in 16 ODIs in England with a best bowling of 6/19 that came on the 2022 tour. He is known for giving India early wickets and will be a good option against Duckett.

1. Rohit Sharma vs Jofra Archer

Rohit Sharma will be under pressure when he plays against England in the first ODI, as he managed only one fifty against Afghanistan in the recent series. He had also not done well in the IPL 2026 for Mumbai Indians and has dealt with fitness problems. However, if he wants to remain in contention for the 2027 ICC World Cup, Rohit needs to make the most of the opportunities he gets.

Jofra Archer, who troubled the Indian openers in the T20I series recently, will be tasked with dealing with Rohit Sharma and preferably getting him out at the earliest. Archer has the pace and bounce to trouble Rohit Sharma, and England will hope that he gives the best start to the home team as possible.