Virat Kohli Back! No Place For Ishan Kishan? India's Strongest Playing XI for England ODIs

Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill (Source: AFP)

After a dominant 3-0 ODI series sweep against Afghanistan at home, Team India now turns its attention to a much tougher challenge against England. 

The three-match ODI series, beginning on July 14, will be India’s first major white-ball assignment after the conclusion of the IPL 2026 season.

The biggest talking point ahead of the series was the fitness of Virat Kohli. The former India captain missed the Afghanistan ODI series after suffering a hamstring injury during the IPL 2026 final.

Although he has been included in the India's squad, his participation was dependent on receiving clearance from the BCCI. It is vital to note that the stylish batter has received a positive nod from the BCCI and has cleared the fitness Test.

With Kohli's availability now cleared, let's take a look at India's strongest playing XI for the ODI series vs England.

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India's Strongest Playing XI For England ODIs

Openers and top order - Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli

• At the top of the order, Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill remain the automatic choices. The omission of Yashasvi Jaiswal from the squad means there is little debate over India's opening combination. Both batters were among the leading performers during the Afghanistan series. 
• Gill was outstanding and finished as the highest run-scorer of the series with 238 runs in three innings. He scored a brilliant 154 and another half-century, ending the series with an incredible average of 238 and a strike rate above 135.23. 
• Rohit Sharma also looked in good touch. The veteran opener scored 143 runs in three innings at an average of 47.67 and a strike rate of 115.32.
• It is important to note that Virat Kohli has cleared the fitness Test and will likely retain his place at No. 3. The star player was not part of the IND vs AFG ODI series due to injury. For Kohli, the IND vs ENG ODI series is important, given the ODI World Cup 2027.

Middle-Order and allrounders - Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel

• Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer should continue at No. 4. Although he did not produce a big score against Afghanistan, he played useful supporting knocks throughout the series. 
• KL Rahul is expected to bat at No. 5 and also take over wicketkeeping duties. KL Rahul has been one of India's most dependable ODI batters in recent years. Against Afghanistan, he scored 39 runs across the series at an average of 39.00 and maintained a strike rate of 195.00.
• The all-round department could see Nitish Kumar Reddy bat at No. 6, with Hardik Pandya sidelined due to a quadriceps injury. The Indian team management views him as a long-term seam-bowling all-rounder, and India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has openly backed him as a potential successor to Hardik.

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• Axar Patel should occupy the No. 7 position. England's batting lineup features several right-handed batters, making Axar's left-arm spin a useful weapon. He also provides batting depth and all-round value, giving him an edge over Washington Sundar in the IND vs ENG ODIs.

Bowlers - Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna

• Harshit Rana could be selected at No. 8. The fast bowler was included in the squad during the Afghanistan series for the third ODI after recovering from a knee injury but did not get a game. Despite his long absence, India may prefer him because of his ability to contribute lower-order runs while also providing crucial breakthroughs. 
• Kuldeep Yadav remains India's premier wrist-spinner and should lead the spin attack alongside Axar Patel. His wicket-taking ability in the middle overs makes him a crucial player, especially on English pitches that can assist spinners later in the innings.
• The pace attack will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, whose return is one of the biggest positives for India. Bumrah has not played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup final due to fitness concerns and workload management.
• Completing the XI is Prasidh Krishna, who was exceptional against Afghanistan. The tall pacer produced a career-best performance in the third ODI, taking five wickets for just 23 runs. His ability to generate bounce and extract movement makes him an ideal partner for Bumrah.

India's strongest XI for England ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna

Also Read: Yashasvi Jaiswal Latest Casualty: Players Dropped From India's ODI Squad After Scoring A Hundred