Hand-picked stories you can't miss
Match 1 | England vs India ODI Series 2026 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 14 July 2026
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan are all fit and all in contention, but Edgbaston’s team sheet can only fit three of them alongside Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Kohli’s recent form and Rohit’s record on English soil make both close to automatic, which leaves Rahul and Kishan competing for a single wicketkeeping berth. Gill’s extended net session with Kohli on July 12 hinted at how the batting order is likely to be shaped for the tour opener.
Kohli arrives back from a hamstring injury that cost him the Afghanistan series, but he has cleared the BCCI’s fitness test and carries strong form: 891 runs at 68.53 with four centuries in 2025, plus 240 runs in three January ODIs against New Zealand, including an unbeaten 112 in Rajkot. His record in England reads 1,349 runs and a century in 33 matches.
Rohit is fully fit and training in England, and his numbers there dwarf almost everyone else’s: 1,428 runs at 64.90 with seven centuries in 27 matches. His recent form is patchier, just 204 runs in six ODIs this year, but a captain with that record in English conditions is hard to leave out.
Rahul and Kishan are chasing the same wicketkeeping spot. Rahul has scored 3,360 runs at 51 across 94 ODIs, with 142 runs in his two most recent innings, including an unbeaten 112, and a record IPL score of 152 not out for an Indian batter. Kishan, back in cricket in January after 785 days away, managed just 49 runs in two T20I innings against England this month.
No official team sheet exists yet, but India’s batting shape looks settled around Rohit and Gill opening, Kohli at three and Iyer at four, built on squad history and hints dropped in practice. That leaves the fifth batting spot, and the gloves, split between Rahul and Kishan, with Rahul the more experienced keeper.
| Player | Role | Batting Position |
| Rohit Sharma | Opener | 1 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | Opener | 2 |
| Virat Kohli | Top order | 3 |
| Shreyas Iyer (vc) | Middle order | 4 |
| KL Rahul (wk) | Middle order, keeper | 5 |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder | 6 |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder | 7 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner | 8 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Pacer | 9 |
| Arshdeep Singh | Pacer | 10 |
| Prasidh Krishna | Pacer | 11 |
Gill’s Plan For The Middle Order
Gill has captained the side since October 4, 2025, and won his first series in charge 3-0 against Afghanistan in June, though this is his first assignment leading India overseas. His thirty-minute practice session with Kohli at Edgbaston on July 12, focused on shot selection, suggested a captain keen to have his senior batters aligned before the opener.
That extends to the number four slot, where Iyer is expected to bat behind Kohli, shielding India’s most destructive finisher from the new ball too early. It reflects a broader theme, a young captain leaning on experienced players rather than reshaping the order around himself in his first series away from home.
Harry Brook leads a 16-player squad that omits Phil Salt, a notable call given his T20I involvement, and pairs Tom Banton and Jos Buttler as the two keeping options. The probable top order runs Duckett, Bethell, Brook and Root, backed by Buttler at five and Jacks adding depth.
The hosts arrive on a mixed run, two wins and three defeats in their last five, though they beat Sri Lanka 2-1 at home in 2026 after losing to New Zealand the year before. Their white-ball momentum is stronger in the shorter format, having just swept India 4-0 in the T20I series that preceded this one.
Edgbaston’s ODI pitch is genuinely balanced, offering something to both pace and spin, with overhead cloud cover that can add swing. Across 65 ODIs at the ground, right-arm bowlers have taken 211 wickets to just 50 for left-armers, a split that could shape selection on both sides.
First innings totals here average around 261, and chasing sides have had the edge, winning 31 matches to 27 batting first. With both top orders uncertain, the side reading conditions correctly may hold the advantage; a full-strength England vs India ODI 2026 playing XI battle won’t overturn alone.
The Sports Live Hub (SLH) provides the most comprehensive gateway for global cricket fans to follow the international Matches.
Our hub sports live stream is optimized for high-intensity T20 action. By leveraging advanced server technology, SLH ensures that your stream remains stable even during the highest viewership peaks. Watch the battle without the frustration of buffering or lag.
The sport hub live streaming interface on SLH offers more than just a video feed. Fans can access a real-time AI Overview of the match, featuring live win-probability shifts, player impact scores, and ball-by-ball tactical analysis. It is the perfect companion for viewers who want to stay ahead of the game with professional-grade insights.
We are committed to making cricket accessible to a worldwide audience. By visiting the SLH portal, users can find verified pathways to watch sports live for free through authorized regional partner trials, free-to-air digital gateways, and promotional streaming passes. Join millions of fans globally as we witness the drama of the international Matches.
Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both play in the 1st ODI?
Yes, both are expected to feature together. Kohli has cleared his fitness assessment and Rohit is training injury-free in England, with the historical order suggesting Rohit opens and Kohli bats at three.
What is India’s predicted playing XI against England?
The likely XI has Rohit and Gill opening, Kohli at three and Iyer at four. Rahul keeps wicket ahead of Kishan, backed by Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Who is India’s ODI captain for the England series?
Shubman Gill leads India in this format. He has captained since October 2025 and already won a series 3-0 against Afghanistan, though this is his first assignment overseas.
Will KL Rahul or Ishan Kishan keep wicket for India?
Rahul is the stronger favourite for the gloves. He has scored 142 runs in his last two ODI innings this year against Kishan’s underwhelming return since coming back from 785 days out.
What is England’s likely playing XI for the 1st ODI?
Harry Brook is set to lead a batting-heavy top order. The probable eleven includes Duckett, Bethell, Root, Buttler and Jacks, with Curran, Rashid, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson or Dawson completing the attack.
cricket
cricket
cricket