Sharma, Kholi, and Bumrah To Lead India’s Redemption Against England?

by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath

image Sharma, Kholi, and Bumrah To Lead India’s Redemption Against England?
The wounds from the brutal 4-0 T20I series thumping that culminated in a 56-run defeat, which left Indian fans reeling, are still fresh. However today, the format shifts to 50 overs and the big guns are back. With reputations on the line at Edgbaston, all eyes are on the Men in Blue’s veteran guard to stop the bleeding.
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The Return of India’s Veterans for England ODI Series 

India’s tour to England moves on to the ODI leg today, with the first of three 50-over internationals set to kick off at Edgbaston this afternoon. You can get all the key information for this series opener in our cricket predictions. 

The Men in Blue arrive in Birmingham off the back of a dismal T20I series, which they lost 4-0 following a painful 56-run defeat at the Rose Bowl on Saturday afternoon. However, with the series now shifting to the ODI format, India will be looking to bounce back. 

The heavy T20 losses exposed a vulnerable middle order and a bowling attack that lacked teeth against Jos Buttler’s relentless assault. Yet, India have renewed hope for the upcoming three-match series: Enter Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah. 

Virat Kohli: The Chase King

Even at 37, Kohli is still widely considered the best ODI batsman in world cricket, possessing a career average that hovers at an astonishing 58.7. When lining up against England today, his patience and ability to dismantle spin bowlers will be key to helping his side to victory. 

  • Overall ODI Record: 14,797 runs, 54 centuries, 58.7 average
  • ODI Record vs England: 1,349 runs, 12 half-centuries, 51.88 average
  • Key Stat: Kohli has scored 806 of his ODI runs against England while chasing targets 

Rohit Sharma: India’s Opening Hitman

While Sharma is universally feared for holding the highest individual score in ODI history (264), it is his record specifically in England that makes him one to watch today. Sharma matches the legendary Sachin Tendulkar for the second-most centuries by an Indian batter against England. 

  • Overall OD Record: 11,720 runs, 33 centuries, 48.8 average
  • ODI Record vs England: 1,428 runs, 7 centuries, 64.90 average
  • Key Stat: Sharma famously loves playing at Edgbaston. During the 2019 World Cup, he smashed a scintillating 102 against England at this exact venue in Birmingham

Jasprit Bumrah: The White-Ball Specialist

Bumrah does not just take wickets; he is a master of freezing the opposition’s run rates. The Indian speedster holds a career ODI economy rate of just 4.60, which is widely considered nearly impossible for a modern death-overs specialist. 

  • Overall ODI Record: 149 wickets in 88 matches, 23.6 bowling average, 4.60 economy rate
  • ODI Record vs England: 22 wickets in 8 matches, 18.40 bowling average
  • Key Stat: In his last ODI match against England on UK soil, Bumrah notched up a career-best spell of 6 for 19 

Pitch Report: Edgbaston Wicket to Favour Batters but Early Swing Expected 

The pitch at Edgbaston is known to favour batsmen, but with overhead cloud cover in Birmingham this morning, the fresh white Kookaburra is expected to move sharply through the air during the powerplay before the track flattens out in the middle overs. 

Once the initial shine wears off, Edgaston is likely to turn into a paradise for batters. The surface typically offers reliable carry, meaning risk-takers like Sharma will be confident playing expansive shots without fear of uneven track behaviour. 

While the seamers should dominate the morning, the pitch will dry up as the match progresses. This is where the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel will become vital, with the odd ball expected to grip and turn, allowing India to potentially choke England before the death overs.