Are Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Playing Today? India begin their three-match ODI series against England with the first ODI at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Tuesday (July 14). The return of senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has grabbed the headlines, with both veterans making a comeback after the latter missed India’s recent ODI series against Afghanistan. As expected, both players have been named in India’s playing XI for the series opener.
IND vs ENG, 1st ODI: Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Playing Today?
Yes. Captain Rohit Sharma and batting stalwart Virat Kohli have both returned to India’s XI for the opening ODI against England at Edgbaston. Their return significantly strengthens India’s batting unit as the visitors begin an important white-ball assignment in England.
India Playing XI
India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
England XI: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Harry Brook (c), Joe Root, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts.
Why Virat Missed Afghanistan ODI Series?
Virat Kohli did not feature in India’s ODI series against Afghanistan after being rested by the team management. The selectors opted to manage the workload of senior players while giving opportunities to younger members of the squad ahead of the crucial England tour. Having completed his scheduled break, Kohli has now returned to India’s ODI setup for the three-match series in England.
IND vs ENG, 1st ODI: What’s at Stake?
The ODI series serves as an important assignment for both teams as they continue preparations for future ICC tournaments. India will look to make an ideal start under Rohit Sharma with an experienced batting line-up, while England, led by Harry Brook, will aim to capitalise on home conditions and begin the series with a victory at Edgbaston.
