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England’s tour of India has been far from ideal, with losses piling up across formats. Their struggles continued in the first ODI, where India comfortably chased down the target with 68 balls to spare. The visitors have managed just one victory from six matches on this tour and will be desperate to avoid another series defeat.
India, on the other hand, showcased an all-round performance in the opening match, excelling in pace, spin, and middle-order batting. With a win in Cuttack, they can seal the series before heading into the final ODI. With the conditions favoring high-scoring encounters, England must bring their best game to stay alive in the contest.
MATCH DETAILS
| Fixture | India vs England |
|---|---|
| Date | February 3, 2025 |
| Time | 1:30 PM Local Time |
| Venue | Barabati Stadium, Cuttack |
| Live Streaming | Available on official platforms |
TEAMS PREVIEW
India
India dominated the first ODI with both bat and ball, showing why they are among the top teams in world cricket. The bowling attack was well-balanced, with every bowler contributing, and the batting lineup proved its depth once again.
Shubman Gill led the charge with a classy 87, supported by an aggressive knock from Shreyas Iyer (59 off 36) and a valuable half-century from Axar Patel. Their ability to accelerate in the middle overs ensured a comfortable chase despite early setbacks.
In the bowling department, Harshit Rana impressed on his ODI debut, claiming three wickets. Ravindra Jadeja also starred with figures of 3/26, continuing his dominance over Joe Root. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami provided further control, making it tough for England’s batters to build momentum.
With their top order in form and a deep batting lineup, India will be confident heading into this match. A second straight win will give them an unassailable lead in the series.
India Predicted XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami
England
England’s struggles in white-ball cricket have continued on this tour, and the first ODI highlighted their key weaknesses. Despite Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell scoring half-centuries, the rest of the batting lineup failed to capitalize. The top order, including Joe Root and Ben Duckett, needs to step up if England wants to put up a competitive total.
On the bowling front, Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood picked up two wickets each, but overall, the attack lacked penetration. Jofra Archer was economical but will need better support from his fellow pacers. Brydon Carse had an expensive outing, conceding 52 runs in five overs, and his place could be under threat if England decides to make a change.
With the series on the line, England must regroup quickly. Their best chance lies in posting a strong total or exploiting any early movement in the pitch to trouble India’s batting lineup.
England Predicted XI:
Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood
FANTASY XI
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | Batter |
| Jos Buttler | Batter |
| Rohit Sharma | Batter |
| Shreyas Iyer | Batter |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| Hardik Pandya | All-rounder |
| Jacob Bethell | All-rounder |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Bowler |
| Jofra Archer | Bowler |
| Adil Rashid | Bowler |
| Mohammed Shami | Bowler |
PITCH REPORT
The surface at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack is known for being batting-friendly, with good carry and bounce.
- Batting Conditions: The pitch favors stroke-making, and a high-scoring game is expected. Batters who settle in can make the most of the conditions.
- Bowling Assistance: Pacers will get some early movement, but spinners could come into play as the match progresses.
- Par Score: A first-innings total of around 320 should be considered competitive.
TOSS PREDICTION
With four of the last six ODIs in Cuttack won by the chasing team, both captains are likely to opt for bowling first if they win the toss.
MATCH PREDICTION
England have struggled to find consistency on this tour, and their batting remains a concern. India, with their in-form batters and a balanced bowling attack, have the edge going into this encounter. If England’s top order does not fire, India could wrap up the series with another comfortable win.
Prediction: India to win
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