Carlos Alcaraz’s long-awaited return to competitive tennis now appears to be getting closer, as encouraging reports from Spain have revealed that the 23-year-old has made a full recovery from the wrist injury that kept him out of action for nearly four months. According to La Verdad, the Spaniard’s medical team is satisfied with his progress, raising hopes he can return in time for the US Open later this summer.

Alcaraz has not played a competitive match since injuring his right wrist during the Barcelona Open in April. The setback forced him to withdraw from several major tournaments, including Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, significantly disrupting what had started a promising season. At the beginning of the year, the Spaniard won her first Australian Open title and completed a career Grand Slam at the age of 23.

Concerns over his fitness resurfaced after his name was removed from the entry list for the Canadian Open in Montreal. However, Spanish media reports have insisted that the decision was part of a carefully managed recovery program rather than a sign of any fresh complications. Alcaraz himself recently shared videos of his training session.Reassuring fans that his comeback remains “on the right track”.

Cincinnati emerges as comeback target

The most significant update came when Alcaraz underwent another evaluation with renowned sports physician Angel Ruiz-Cotero. La Verdad said that doctors are happy with the player’s recovery and hope to give him medical clearance soon. The report adds that Alcaraz’s wrist is now “healthy” and “completely fine”, with his team gradually increasing the intensity of his training sessions.

With Montreal now out of the way, all signs point to the Cincinnati Masters, where Alcaraz can make his long-awaited return. His camp is reportedly prioritizing the ATP Masters 1000 event in Ohio, which begins in mid-August, to ensure he reaches peak condition for the final Grand Slam of the season.

The timing is especially significant as Alcaraz will head to Cincinnati as defending champions, having won the trophy there last year. A successful comeback will not only provide them with valuable match practice before Flushing Meadows but will also allow them to defend important ranking points.

For now, uncertainty surrounding the Spaniard’s recovery has been replaced by optimism. If his rehabilitation continues on its current trajectory, tennis fans won’t have to wait much longer to see one of the game’s biggest stars back on the court, with Cincinnati potentially serving as the final step toward a highly anticipated return to action at the US Open.

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New Delhi: India all-rounder Axar Patel admitted that he was guilty of trying to overhit the ball during the T20 series against England, saying a change in mindset and greater belief in timing helped him produce a match-winning all-round performance in the opening ODI at Edgbaston.Axar, who was named Player of the Match, performed brilliantly with both bat and ball as India bounced back from a 0-4 loss in the T20 series with a six-wicket win in the first ODI. The left-arm spinner took 4 for 62 in 9.5 overs and then scored 57 runs in 52 balls as India chased down the successful target of 259 runs with 28 balls to spare. captain Shubman Gill (80 retired hurt) and Washington Sundar (52 not out) also made valuable contributions as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Akshar spoke about T20I struggles

Reflecting on his poor T20I returns, where he could only score 19 runs in four innings, Axar said he realized he was sacrificing technique in search of power.“It was very important for me to perform like this. As far as my mindset is concerned, I needed to keep it up. I had to stay focused rather than thinking that it will happen on its own. I had to have self-belief and execute my plans,” Akshar told Geostar.“I feel like I was trying to hit the ball too hard during the T20s,” he said.The 32-year-old revealed that batting in the death overs during the T20 series forced him to play risky strokes, which affected his balance at the crease.“When you go to bat in the death overs, you have no other option but to hit big shots, but I was losing my shape a bit. So, when I went to bat in this game, we got a great start, I just wanted to build a partnership,” he explained.

There is benefit in giving more time than strength

Akshar said that the slow surface at Edgbaston demanded patience, prompting him to rely on his timing rather than mashing the ball.He said, “I was not trying to hit the ball too hard because I knew I had time and I could take some balls. I was focusing on my timing.”He said the conditions have made life difficult for new batsmen, with bounce, swing and seam movement giving an advantage to those willing to spend time at the crease before attacking.Akshar also gave credit to the return of senior stars Rohit Sharma, Virat KohliJasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul said his presence brought peace and confidence to the dressing room.

“We have been playing with each other for a long time. Everyone knows their role, there is unity and you can see it on the field as well. It creates a very comfortable atmosphere,” he said.India will be looking to seal the three-match ODI series when they take on England in the second match in Cardiff on Thursday.

India did not defeat England in Birmingham on Tuesday. There was no batting massacre at the top, no sustained attack from the first ball, and certainly no chaos that had defined his ODI cricket three years earlier.

Instead, India defeated England. 1st ODI: Highlights | Achievement:

After being thrashed 0-4 by England in the T20I series and enduring a miserable white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, India responded somewhat differently in the opening ODI. He handled the pressure, trusted his bowlers, waited for mistakes and then Chasing 259, England gradually saved their lives with six wickets remaining.

It wasn’t spectacular. It was calculated. And perhaps, it was a glimpse of what India aspires to become ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

ghost of 2023

To understand where this Indian team is going, one has to remember where they have come from. In 2023, Rohit Sharma basically rewrote the manual on how India approached the 50-over format. The mandate was simple, uncompromising and emphatic: attack, attack and attack.

Rohit gave India a good start by using the powerplay as a weapon and selflessly throwing his wicket over the line. With the ball, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami operated with equal, lethal aggression, demolishing opposition batting line-ups before they could even breathe. The coach and the team were completely in lockstep – this ultra-aggressive blueprint was the only way to stay ahead. It was a breathtaking brand of cricket that enthralled the world, right up until it lost badly against Australia on a slow pitch in Ahmedabad in the World Cup final.

Fast forward to 2026, the scenario has completely changed.

India are now operating under a different captain and a different coaching staff, who approach the canvas of 50-over cricket from a very different perspective. The era of extreme chaos has made way for the return of chess grandmasters. After a bit of a rocky start to his ODI captaincy tenure, Shubman Gill has firmly found his feet. Leading the team after a disappointing T20 loss, Gill led the side to a spectacular win in Birmingham that felt like a comeback.

It was a masterclass in good old-fashioned process.

squeeze out life

This was visible in the way India bowled against the powerful English batting unit. Jasprit Bumrah set the tone with a sensational, probing opening spell, thrashing the bat again and again. England’s opening batsmen held on to their luck and survived the storm in which they should have got wickets but did not get any.

The first true test of India’s patience came when Gill introduced Gurnoor Brar as the first change bowler. England smelled blood, with the youngster scoring 26 runs in the first two overs in the batting powerplay. Suddenly, India was pushed back. Under the old template, this might have triggered a panicked counter-attack. Under the new one, he trusted the process.

Returning to the attack in the 13th over, Bahadur Gurnoor backed up his strength. Two quick short balls resulted in two wickets and just like that, India had blown the door. Sensing the opportunity, Gill immediately brought back his ace. Bumrah dismissed England captain Harry Brook on the very first ball of his second spell. A brutal collapse followed: from a comfortable score of 51/0, England collapsed to 80/5.

For Gill, this tactical flexibility was the decisive marker of the match.

“We bowled brilliantly in the first six or seven overs,” Gill said after the game. “Then at the end of the powerplay they went behind a bit and we came under pressure. But I think how we came back and took five wickets was very important.”

Joe Root and Liam Dawson later showed resistance – a massive partnership of over 100 – which put India back in a difficult position. Indian spinners drained the boundaries instead of searching for wickets. The reward arrived by the 44th over. Axar Patel broke the stubborn stand, and with the pressure dial reaching absolute maximum, England lost their lower order. Akshar took four wickets and England were reduced to 259 runs.

anchor on top

This change in the attacking style of cricket is not happening suddenly; This is completely by design. Look no further than the captain himself.

Shubman Gill’s last four ODI scores were an astonishing 126, 84*, 154 and 80* in Birmingham, before Hurt retired due to severe cramps. Gill has been vocal about his batting philosophy. He wants to bat deep – up to the 40th or 45th over – believing that having a set, specific batsman in the death overs is the ultimate advantage in overseas conditions.

Interestingly, this philosophy has also revived Rohit Sharma. Knowing that a series of low scores under a high-risk template will put his place under the microscope, the experienced opener has reverted to the same style that turned him into a white-ball monster around 2018-19. It’s the classic Rohit manual: respect the new ball, absorb the testing spells, and build a massive foundation.

Destination: South Africa 2027

The return of old-fashioned ODI cricket may actually be India’s best chance in South Africa.

In 2023, India could afford to deploy a breathless, boundary-killing template as they were playing on a familiar, true subcontinent track. But South Africa will host the 2027 ODI World Cup. On the bouncy, fast and often hostile pitches of the Highveld, trying to hit line-length with the very first ball is a recipe for disaster.

Gill clearly linked the poor performance in Birmingham to the long-term blueprint for the World Cup.

“I think the wicket we played on and the conditions were somewhat similar to what we might expect in South Africa,” Gill said. “It was not easy for the batsmen with the new ball. The ball was spinning a bit and hitting the surface, so it was not easy to score runs in the beginning… If we can test different combinations on these types of wickets, it will be great for us.”

Birmingham may have been just a bilateral ODI, but it felt like something more important. Three years ago, India tried to win the game in the first 15 overs. On Tuesday he kept his composure till almost 100 and achieved a win.

Whether this template proves more successful than Rohit Sharma’s all-out aggression will only be answered in South Africa next year. But after a fortnight of disappointment in the United Kingdom, India finally looked like a team that knew exactly what it wanted to be.

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Few scenes in women’s cricket are so convincing Smriti Mandhana In full flow for India. The beautiful left-hander was at her best in India’s historic Test win at Lord’s and scored two half-centuries to help register a memorable win over England. In an interview with TOI, the 29-year-old talked about India’s historic win at Lord’s, lessons from repeated T20 World Cup disappointments, the impact of the WPL and why she feels ready to captain India when the opportunity arises. Part…What does it mean to be a part of India’s first women’s Test at Lord’s and contribute significantly to the win?To be a part of the first ever women’s Test at Lord’s and more importantly, to win it, was amazing. It was special to contribute to India’s historic victory. We all dreamed of playing Test cricket as children, so doing it at Lord’s makes it even more memorable.Yastika Bhatia You are credited for helping in his recovery after ACL surgery. What did you say to him?Knee injury is very difficult for any player. In Yastika’s case, it happened before the home World Cup, which made it even more difficult. I told him how my own ACL injury in 2017 helped me grow as both a person and an athlete. Some of my best cricket came after that setback. I thought she would connect with it and stay motivated during the rehabilitation process.Why do you think India made an early exit from the T20 World Cup?It is important to introspect and learn from mistakes. Unfortunately, we have not learned enough from our past mistakes and continue to repeat them. Going forward, there needs to be a clear roadmap leading up to the 2028 T20 World Cup as to how we want to approach the format and what we need to do as a team.There is speculation about the change of captaincy. If you are asked, are you ready to lead India?yes of course. I am ready.In four seasons of the WPL, there has been no significant improvement in India’s T20 results. Has the league provided enough Indian talent?I think the WPL has produced a lot of new talent and many players have made it to the national team. However, I feel that they have not always been used to their best potential.You have led RCB to consecutive WPL titles. What is your leadership philosophy?For me, creating a positive team culture is most important. Every player should feel comfortable expressing themselves and being who they are. When people feel valued and trusted, they perform better.You have consistently performed well in major tournaments. Do big events bring out the best in you?Work on this is in progress. Over the last few years, I have felt quite calm about my cricket, be it a big tournament or a bilateral series. That peace has helped me focus on doing my job for the team.As India’s leading batsman, do you feel the burden of expectations?There are many good batsmen in our team. Whenever you pick up the bat for India, there is pressure to help your team win. But I enjoy that pressure. After all, what’s the fun of playing a game if there’s no pressure?What role has ICC President Jay Shah played in the development of women’s cricket?Jay sir has played a vital role in the progress of women’s cricket not only in India but globally.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente believes his team has rediscovered the spirit that led La Roja to their first FIFA World Cup title after defeating France in 2010 to reach the final of the 2026 tournament.

Spain beats tournament favorites France 2-0 in Dallas To book his second World Cup final on Tuesday. Speaking after the win, de la Fuente praised the unity, humility and selflessness within his team, saying that the current group reminds him of the team that conquered the world in South Africa 16 years ago.

france vs spain, FIFA World Cup 2026: highlighted

“The message was that we were up against one of the best teams in the world, but they were up against the best team in the world,” de la Fuente said.

“These players show commitment, togetherness and talent. They make the difficult look easy. They have talent and the right attitude towards life and the game.”

The Spain boss said what pleased him most was not just the performances on the field but the culture created by his players behind the scenes.

“I see a happy dressing room and a nation behind us. We have recaptured the spirit of 2010,” he said.

“The character of this team is evident in the fact that those who did not play stayed for training after the match.”

Spain’s Strategic Masterclass France’s star-studded attack was completely neutralizedWho had scored 16 goals before the semi-finals. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michel Olise all remained silent as France failed to register a single shot on target until after the 80th minute.

team first, egos last

De la Fuente attributed Spain’s success to the collective mentality within the team, and emphasized that each member of the group adopted a shared vision rather than chasing individual glory.

He said, “I believe the most important thing is to know how to choose your traveling companion. If you choose the wrong traveling companion, you can get into a problem.”

“We know that this team – not just the players, but everyone who makes up the team – works toward a common goal with equal enthusiasm, and we are normal, generous people who put the common good before our individual interests.”

Spain are now 37 matches unbeaten and have equaled Italy’s all-time international record, but De La Fuente believes his team are still a long way from their target.

He said, “This team never ceases to amaze me. The room for improvement is endless.”

“It was a labor of love, a process. It was about getting to the key moment in the best possible shape.”

One win from World Cup glory

Spain is now just one win away from its second victory FIFA World Cup The title and adding it to the UEFA Euro 2024 crown they won under de la Fuente.

The Spain coach admitted that he would have liked to meet Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina in the final because of their friendship, but he also praised England and described the second semi-final as a match that could decide the World Cup.

De la Fuente said, “I don’t believe in the idea that finals are to be won. They are to be enjoyed.”

“What’s to come may just be the icing on the cake.”

If Spain can produce another performance like the one that demolished France, de la Fuente’s team will have a chance to complete one of the finest eras in the country’s football history.

FIFA World Cup | fifa world cup schedule | fifa world cup points table | football news

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Shubman Gill continued his fine record at Edgbaston with a brilliant 80 as India beat England by six wickets in the first ODI at Edgbaston on Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Gill once again performed at the spot where he scored 269 and 161 during India’s Test win last year. His innings of 80 off 75 balls helped India chase the target before cramp and a hamstring problem forced him to retire hurt after completing his century.Chasing 259, India lost the wickets of Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (5) early, leaving the score at 48/2. After this, Gill again took the innings forward by adding 101 runs for the third wicket with vice-captain Shreyas Iyer.Gill looked in control during his innings and hit 11 fours and a six. He balanced the attack carefully, playing drives on the off and on side, as well as hitting a six to Josh Tong. However, his innings were hampered by physical issues, with calf cramps followed by a hamstring problem that forced him to retire hurt on 80.Soon after Gill’s dismissal, England found a way back into the contest. Iyer, who had scored 35, was run out and later KL Rahul was bowled by Tongue.However, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar ensured that there were no further setbacks. The pair made an unbeaten 102-run partnership for the fifth wicket, giving India victory in 45.2 overs.Axar, who struggled for runs during the T20I series, remained unbeaten on 57 off 52 balls, while Washington remained unbeaten on 52 off 63 balls. The duo handled the pace of Jofra Archer and rotated the strike well against the England spinners and completed the chase with ease.The win was India’s first win in the ongoing tour of the United Kingdom.Earlier, Joe Root and Liam Dawson rescued England after a batting collapse by making a 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket.England were 61 for no loss at the start of the 13th over, but fell to 107 for 6 before Root and Dawson rebuilt the innings. Root scored 76 off 76 balls, while Dawson scored a career-best 68 off 83 balls, helping England post 258 after electing to bat first.Root carried his innings well and took an aggressive approach after Jasprit Bumrah completed the opening spell. He hit six fours and a six, including a ramp shot off Bumrah’s bouncer.Bumrah took one wicket for 31 runs in nine overs and was India’s most economical bowler. Gurnoor Brar took 2 wickets for 61 runs, while Prasidh Krishna took 2 wickets for 50 runs. After this, Akshar clean bowled the lower order by taking 4 wickets for 62 runs after breaking the Root-Dawson stand.

Jasprit Bumrah returned to lead India to its first win on the United Kingdom tour. The star Indian fast bowler, playing his first 50-over game since the 2023 ODI World Cup final, completely changed the mood of the tour as India won by 6 wickets in the first ODI of the series in Birmingham.

Some aggressive fast bowling led by Jasprit Bumrah led India to a small collapse in the English batting order. The hosts made a comeback and scored 258 runs on the board, but it was not enough to stop the revamped Indian team, which had the services of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul etc.

It was a big sigh of relief for coach Gautam Gambhir, who had no clue during India’s 0-6 defeat in the T20 series against Ireland and England. After India decided to bowl first in Birmingham, Bumrah set the tone with a sensational opening spell.

England vs India, 1st ODI: Updates

England began their innings with two attacking batsmen, the regular Ben Duckett and the experimental Jacob Bethell. Both struggled against Bumrah’s swing in the early overs on Tuesday, playing and missing several times in the first 10 overs.

Bumrah could not get any success in the first 10 overs, but he troubled the England openers with the quality of his fast bowling. The cracks appeared just outside the powerplay, when Shubman Gill brought on fast bowler Gurnoor Brar in the 13th over of the game.

Brar was taken to the cleaners by Bethel and Duckett, who had scored 26 of England’s first 51 runs in their opening spells.

With the field spread, Shubman trusted his guts and brought back his childhood friend in the hope of a breakthrough. The 6 feet 5 inches tall fast bowler struck immediately and dismissed both the openers with short balls..

He was the first to go to Bethel. Against a rising delivery, he managed to find Washington Sundar at deep midwicket. Two balls later, Duckett succumbed to a sensational catch by Jasprit Bumrah at the edge of the third-man rope.

In a spell of sensational captaincy, Shubman brought Bumrah back in immediately after the breakthrough and, once again, the impact was immediate. England captain Harry Brook, who terrorized the Indian bowling unit in the T20I series, was unable to understand Bumrah’s angles and was trapped at slip, giving India three quick wickets.

England completely collapsed due to the fall of three wickets in quick succession. Prasidh Krishna struck twice in the 17th over and sent back Jos Buttler and Sam Curran, sealing the fate of the English team.

The host team, unbeaten since last week, had accepted defeat by the 20th over of the first ODI.

After scoring 51/0 in 10 overs, England were reduced to 93/5 by the 20th over.

Axar ends the innings after fightback

Just as India looked set to clean up England early, veteran Joe Root put on a heroic partnership with spinner Liam Dawson for the seventh wicket. Root and Dawson added 121 runs, which is the highest partnership for the seventh wicket for England against India.

This stand not only helped England stabilize their innings but also counterattack India in the death overs. India looked frustrated and did not understand how to get both of them out, but they remained patient and waited for the opportunity.

That moment came in the 44th over of the game. On the last ball of the over, Dawson attacked Akshar Patel strongly, but missed the shot and was caught out at deep backward square leg. When the ball came to Rohit Sharma, a veteran of 285 ODI matches, he did not make any mistake.

Dawson’s wicket caused another collapse for England, who were looking to score runs quickly and were all out for 258 in the 48th over of the match.

Axar Patel, who started the collapse with the wicket of Dawson, ended the innings by taking three more wickets.

It was a significant performance with the ball, considering he was picked apart in his previous game, the final T20I of the series.

Shubman Gill is the star in India’s challenge

Can the target ever be pursued without making it difficult for India? Probably not.

Batting on a pitch with slightly variable bounce, England took the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Thousands of people who had come to this ground to see the two greatest batsmen of this generation perhaps for the last time, returned disappointed.

Rohit could not really go against the bounce on the pitch and eventually fell to Sam Curran in the eighth over. Frustrated after defending several balls, Rohit tried to take on England’s slowest fast bowler but ended up delivering the ball straight to Harry Brook at mid-off.

England captain Brook seized the opportunity and brought back his best bowler, Joffra Archer, in the next over, just as Shubman had done with Bumrah at the start of the innings.

The result was once again immediate. Archer sets up Kohli with a short ball before slipping in a straight fuller delivery. The ball hit Kohli’s pads and ended his innings, which lasted just six balls.

Batting on a pitch that was easy to swing but still offered little variable bounce, Shubman and his vice-captain Shreyas Iyer added 101 runs.

This partnership left England begging for a wicket, which was not going to come.

The rebuilding effort involved plenty of running between the wickets from both batsmen, with Shreyas Iyer relying heavily on strike rotation as his primary scoring option.

Shubman was ready for this, but it had an impact on his body. England felt a strange smell in the 26th over when Shubman retired hurt due to cramps and limped off the field.

Shubman’s departure briefly disrupted India’s innings, with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul losing their wickets in the next 10 balls.

Flexible Akshar Patel took India forward

Things could have gone much worse for India after the fall of two senior players. But Axar Patel handled the situation calmly and led India to a spectacular victory in the first ODI of the series.

After a poor performance in the T20 series, Axar scored 57* off 52 balls, first soaking in the pressure and then finally hitting a flurry of boundaries, taking India to the target in the 46th over of the match.

India arrived in Birmingham carrying the burden of a winless tour and a lack of confidence in the dressing room. They walked away with something more valuable than two scores. Bumrah reminded everyone why he remains the best fast bowler in the world, Shubman achieved another successful chase with maturity in the role of a captain and Axar Patel provided the cool finishing touch.

A win doesn’t erase a poor tour of the United Kingdom or answer every question that has arisen over the past month. But after weeks of tactical confusion, constant cut-offs and changes, injuries and six consecutive defeats, Birmingham finally gave India what they were desperately looking for: belief that this team could find its identity once again.

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There was plenty of star power off the field as the former India captain faced off in the opening ODI between India and England at Edgbaston on Tuesday ms dhoni and bollywood actress Kriti Sanon Spotted watching the match in the stands.

The celebrity duo captured the attention of fans and broadcasters with their visuals during England’s innings Dhoni And Kriti is becoming increasingly popular on social media. His presence increased the hype surrounding the opening match of the series, which also included the return of several senior Indian players Virat Kohli, Rohit SharmaKL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah. While the cameras kept panning towards the VIP stands, the spectators were also kept entertained by the activities happening on the field. England, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were reduced to 107 for six without any loss due to constant pressure from the Indian bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, returning after a six-week workload management break, bowled brilliantly despite taking 1 wicket for 31 runs. The fast bowler bowled 36 dot balls and continuously troubled the England top order with his movement and bounce. Young left-arm fast bowler Gurnoor Brar took two wickets in three balls, dismissing Jacob Bethel and Ben Duckett, while Prasidh Krishna was dismissed. jos buttler And Sam Curran put the hosts in trouble. However, Joe Root And Liam Dawson made a spirited comeback with a 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Root played a composed inning of 76 runs, while Dawson played a career-best inning of 68 runs to take England towards a competitive score. India eventually broke the stand through Axar Patel, who ran down the order and finished with career-best ODI figures of 4 for 62. His late burst ensured England were bowled out for 258 after threatening to post a much bigger score. Even when the contest started on the field, the presence of Dhoni and Kriti Sanon in the stands remained the biggest talking point among the fans, adding a touch of glamor to the series opener at Edgbaston.

On the eve of the first ODI in Birmingham, former India assistant coach Abhishek Nair made an appeal to the team management: support Kuldeep Yadav and give him a chance to play before next year’s World Cup.

England vs India, 1st ODI Achievement: | Update

The toss was cut short in the series opener and India, led by Shubman Gill, dropped Kuldeep Yadav and chose three all-rounders in their eleven.

Surprising, and yet, not surprising at the same time.

The Indian team, under head coach Gautam Gambhir, has consistently prioritized batting depth, often choosing all-rounders at the expense of quality in the bowling attack. This has been a recurring theme across all formats.

India chose Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Shivam Dubey in a six-man bowling attack for the series opener on Tuesday, which will be led by Jasprit Bumrah. There was no room for Kuldeep Yadav, one of India’s most aggressive spinners, especially in overseas conditions.

India XI: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna.

Many expected Kuldeep Yadav to be included in the XI, especially after Axar Patel and Washington Sundar struggled in the recently concluded T20 series. Which India lost 0-4. Incidentally, India ousted Washington for the final T20I on Saturday and captain Shreyas Iyer did not hold back in assessing the bowling performance of the Tamil Nadu all-rounder.

Kuldeep, who was not part of the T20 squad, missed out as India opted to bat deep at No. 8.

The absence of Hardik Pandya and Harshit Rana, both of whom add depth to the batting unit, worked against Kuldeep’s chances.

Since the end of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kuldeep Yadav has played six of India’s 10 ODI matches in overseas conditions, while finger spinners Washington Sundar (eight) and Axar Patel (10) have featured more regularly. During the same period across all formats, Kuldeep has played only 11 matches, while Washington has played 26 and Axar has played 30 matches.

no x factor

After Kuldeep was dropped from the playing eleven, Abhishek Nair, speaking to GeoStar, said that India are sacrificing an X-factor bowler for batting depth.

“You want depth in batting, but not at the expense of taking wickets,” Nair said.

“At the end of the day, you win games by taking wickets. Anybody will tell you this. A team that reached the IPL final did so because it had a bowling attack capable of taking wickets. If your attack can’t do that, it doesn’t matter how much batting you have – you will struggle.

“In this line-up, you have Prasidh Krishna, who can take wickets, and Jasprit Bumrah, who can take wickets. Gurnoor Brar is an unknown number at this level, and we hope he does well.

“Also, your other bowling options are more economical than attacking. Axar Patel takes wickets when batsmen take risks against him, when the pitch provides support, or when they try to force the scoring rate.

“For me, having Kuldeep Yadav gives you the X-factor in the middle overs.”

India were boosted by the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who was playing his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup final. India also picked Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar in place of Arshdeep Singh, who was rested after a heavy workload during the T20 series. Gurnoor impressed in his first ODI series against Afghanistan on home soil.

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India vs England 1st ODI Live Score: India will begin their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup when they take on England in the first match of the three-match series at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday.

After a disappointing T20I campaign, the focus has now shifted to the 50-over format with the return of several senior players expected to strengthen the visitors.

The biggest boost for India is the return of the team’s three most experienced players in ODIs, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.

His return gives captain Shubman Gill an almost full-strength squad as India begin to form combinations for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.

It is expected that Rohit and Gill will open the innings once again. The pair average 60.9 in ODIs and will try to give India a solid start.

Gill is in excellent form. He has scored 373 runs in five ODI innings this year at an average of 93.3 and strike rate of 117, which includes one century and three half-centuries.

Virat Kohli also returned with major milestones within reach.

The first ODI at Edgbaston will be his 300th ODI innings, while another good series could take him past 15,000 ODI runs.

The former India captain has also been in exceptional form in this format, scoring an average of 123 in his last seven ODI innings since the start of 2025.

KL Rahul, who scored 139 runs against Afghanistan in India’s last ODI series, is expected to bat in the middle order and keep wickets. Shreyas Iyer is set to return to his preferred number 4 position.

squads

England: Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethel, Jos Buttler (wk), James Coles, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Josh Tong.

India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav.