The impending Champions Trophy, set to commence on February 19 in Karachi, looms large, and India’s preparations for the marquee event seem far from ideal.
While Rohit Sharma’s return to form with a scintillating century in the second ODI provided a much-needed boost, the team’s reliance on individual brilliance rather than collective effort is a cause for concern. Kohli’s struggles with the bat have been well-documented, and his inability to convert starts into substantial scores could prove detrimental to India’s aspirations.
The absence of Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler, due to injury, has cast a shadow over the team’s bowling plans. Despite Mohammed Shami’s seamless comeback, the lack of Bumrah’s guile and versatility on varied pitches could be a significant disadvantage for the defending champions.
England, on the other hand, have endured a tumultuous tour, with their batting line-up plagued by repeated implosions. Jos Buttler’s assertion that his team remains a work in progress does little to inspire confidence, especially with the injury-enforced exit of the talented Jacob Bethell further depleting their resources.
The inconsistency of Harry Brook and the lack of support for Joe Root’s impressive returns have exposed England’s batting frailties. While Adil Rashid has exploited the spin-friendly conditions effectively, the onus remains on the batters to produce a unified performance and salvage some pride in the final ODI.
As the Champions Trophy looms, India’s preparations seem far from ideal, with concerns over Kohli’s form, Bumrah’s fitness, and the team’s overreliance on individual brilliance. England, too, face their own set of challenges, with their batting line-up in disarray and the absence of key players hampering their prospects.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
England Squad: Philip Salt (w), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Saqib Mahmood, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell
