NAGPUR: Exactly 15 winters ago, on a crisp Nagpur morning, a young man stood on the threshold of his biggest dream. February 6, 2010, was meant to be the day Rohit Sharma slipped into the hallowed Indian whites for the first time. At 24, brimming with nervous energy and promise, he strode onto the Jamtha ground, ready to script the first chapter of a storied career.
The packed stadium at 8.45am buzzed with anticipation. But just as fate had lifted him to that moment, it pulled the rug from under his feet. A warm-up game of football turned disastrous – a twisted ankle, a cruel pause. Moments before receiving his maiden cap, Rohit’s dream was snatched away, leaving him on the sidelines for three long years.
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Fast forward to Thursday, and Jamtha is once again set to be the stage for Rohit. This time not as a wide-eyed debutant, but as the captain, seeking not redemption but resurgence. As India gears up to face England in the first ODI at Nagpur – a curtain-raiser to the much-anticipated Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai – Rohit will be looking to reignite the fire, both in himself and his team.
Nagpur has been kind to him before. In 2017, it witnessed one of his masterclasses – a majestic unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka. The surface this time, bereft of grass, promises another run-fest. If Rohit, alongside his dynamic deputy Shubman Gill, channels the template of their 2023 World Cup exploits, a score above 300 could well be on the cards. India’s approach at the top has been ruthless. Since 2023, they boast the second-best powerplay run rate among the top ten teams. India, along with Australia, have smashed over 70 sixes in the powerplay in this period.
Rohit’s opening partner Gill has been in regal form in white-ball cricket. Since 2023, he has amassed the most ODI runs with an enviable average touching 60. His blend of elegance and precision makes him the perfect foil to Rohit’s brute force.
With Virat Kohli anchoring the No. 3 slot, the middle order presents a delicious dilemma. Three men – Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant – jostle for two spots. All three have been in sublime touch, but the final XI might see Pant sitting out as Rohit hinted during the pre-match presser on Wednesday.
In the bowling department, all eyes will be on Kuldeep Yadav, whose recent exploits have been pivotal to India’s dominance. Alongside the seasoned Mohd Shami, who is making a comeback in ODIs, he will be crucial to India’s Champions Trophy ambitions.
Spinners have ruled India’s bowling charts in ODIs since 2023, with Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja snaring 84 of the 115 wickets taken by Indian tweakers. If variety is what India craves, the late addition of Varun Chakravarthy might just throw a surprise into the mix. He troubled the England batters in the T20Is after bamboozling Bangladesh in another home series last October.
England, meanwhile, arrive in Nagpur burdened by a string of setbacks. Their ODI form post-World Cup has been abysmal – three bilateral series, three defeats. A bruised and battered unit, their confidence teeters on the edge.
Middle order holds the key for the visitors. The entry of Joe Root has boosted their chances. Apart from this, they will be banking on explosive batters like Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, and Liam Livingstone to provide the firepower. Skipper Jos Buttler would further bolster their lineup. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith is likely to miss the first two ODIs due to a calf issue.
However, their bowling has been inconsistent, and the onus will be on Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid to put the brakes on India’s formidable batting unit. Up against an Indian side eager to make a statement, England will need more than just resolve to turn things around.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy
England: Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Philip Salt, Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
