Can India seal the series?
After a convincing win in the opening ODI, hosts India will be looking to seal the three-match ODI series against England in Cuttack as the Men In Blue look to fine tune their systems before the Champions Trophy 2025.
Ahead of the second ODI between India and England, here’s our match preview and prediction.
India vs England 2nd ODI | England tour of India 2025 | 13:30 IST, February 9
Starting with the visitors first, Phil Salt and Ben Duckett carried on from where they left off in the T20I series, giving England a flyer before a misunderstanding between the openers and piece of magic in the field by Yashasvi Jaiswal sent Salt and Duckett home. After losing the openers, Harshit Rana’s double blow pegged England back before captain Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell started the repair job. Buttler, who was in good nick in the T20I series as well continued his good form while the young Bethell showed why he is regarded as a talent to look out for with a sublime half-century. England, though, struggled against the left-arm spinners and it will be something they will need to look at ahead of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The English spinners though were tight as Adil Rashid kept a check on the Indian batters while Jacob Bethell and Liam Livingstone chipped in with a couple of economical overs and crucial wicket. While Jofra Archer was tight up front, Buttler will expect his other seamers in Saqib Mahmood and Brydon Carse to not leak runs early on, especially when they had India at 19-2.
The hosts were clinical with the ball after an expensive start as the spinners pulled things back and barring Kuldeep Yadav and the debutant Harshit Rana, Rohit Sharma would be happy with the bowling unit’s performance. While Rana did go for a few early on, he pulled things back well and Yadav, returning from an injury, was the only bowler who looked ordinary. Axar Patel has become a key weapon for the management and his dual-role plays the perfect fiddle to someone like a Ravindra Jadeja, who now has a left-arm spin twin at the other end as well.
With the bat, while Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill and Axar Patel were flawless, Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s struggles continue and the veteran Mumbai batter just looks out of place at the highest level. With the injured Virat Kohli missing out, Gill filled in like a sock at number 3 with Yashasvi Jaiswal opening but Iyer’s aggressive innings will give the team management a happy headache should Kohli be fit for the second ODI. Axar Patel is key with the bat as well for the Indians as the hosts seem to be using him not only as a floater but also a crucial left-hand option when needed. With Jadeja coming in at number 8, India have a long and deep tail.
The Barabati Stadium is one which should be an absolute belter for the batters and it will be an ideal ground for the likes of Sharma and Kohli to regain some form and get amongst the runs. Expect a run-fest in Cuttack with the hosts as our favourites to take the match and the series!
Fantasy XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, , Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Venue: Cuttack
Winners Prediction: India
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