England announce Nagpur ODI squad, including big comeback

India vs England's three-match ODI series is set to begin, while Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur will host the series opener this Thursday (February 6). England have confirmed their squad for the Nagpur ODI. 

After the hard experience in the recently concluded T20I series in the ongoing India tour, where England suffered a 4-1 series defeat, England are ready to begin their Bazball journey in the ODI format. It will be the first ODI for England under the head coach, Brendon McCullum. His Bazball theory has been criticized in the Test and T20I formats, and it will be interesting to see how the strategy works in the ODI format.

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Joe Root returns in ODI

As expected, the 34-year-old England star Joe Root is set to return in the ODI format after more than a year gap. Root last time served for the English ODI side during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 when England faced Pakistan at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It was also his last List A match. 

Gus Atkinson is still waiting for the ODI return

Meanwhile, the right-arm pacer Gus Atkinson, who last played an ODI in December 2023 against West Indies at Bridgetown, still has to wait for his ODI return.

England's Bazball will be tested in ODI series

During the recently concluded T20I series, English batters completely failed against the Indian spinners. The Indian cricket team is likely to maintain the spin-heavy theory against the dangerous English batters. Also, the Indian new-ball bowlers will again test the English top-order batters, who mostly failed in the T20I series. 

As India and England are ready to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), starting on February 19, the three-match ODI series is an important series for the preparation. 

It will be England’s second ODI at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Their first ODI at this venue was against the Netherlands during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, where England won by six wickets after successfully chasing the 293-run target. 

England's playing XI for the Nagpur ODI

Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood