The Impressive TimesCuttack, Feb 8, 2025: Riding high on confidence after a dominant victory in the first ODI, Team India will look to wrap up the three-match series when they take on England in the second encounter at the Barabati Stadium on Sunday. Meanwhile, the visitors will be determined to stage a comeback and force a series decider.
After cruising to a six-wicket win in the opening match in Nagpur, India enter the contest with the upper hand. However, skipper Rohit Sharma’s form remains a talking point, as his return to international cricket has not been as impactful as expected. With just two games left before the ICC Champions Trophy, the Indian captain will be eager to find his rhythm at the crease.
“We just want to keep ticking the right boxes in all departments—batting, bowling, and fielding. There’s no particular milestone in mind, but consistency is key,” Rohit said in the pre-match press conference.
Young pacer Harshit Rana, who impressed on his debut in Nagpur, will aim to build on his performance. Despite being put under pressure by England’s openers early on, he made a strong comeback, claiming three crucial wickets to restrict the visitors to 248. His battle against England’s top order will be one of the key matchups in the second ODI.
India’s batting lineup might see a change, with Virat Kohli’s participation still uncertain. The seasoned batsman missed the first ODI due to a sore knee, and his availability for this fixture remains undecided. If he returns, the management will have to decide whether to retain Shreyas Iyer, who played a solid knock in Kohli’s absence.
“Injuries are unfortunate, but I always keep myself prepared. I knew an opportunity could come at any time, and I wanted to make the most of it,” Iyer commented on his innings.
England, on the other hand, need an improved showing from their middle order, which faltered in the opening game. Skipper Jos Buttler will hope for a better batting performance, while the bowlers must find a way to contain India’s power-packed lineup.
With both teams having much at stake, an intense battle is on the cards at Barabati Stadium. A win for India will seal the series, while England will be desperate to keep their hopes alive.
Team India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Team England: Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Philip Salt, Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
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