Ind vs Eng: Victory in ODIs could feel like redemption for depleted England

After sweeping both the Test and the T20I series against England, Virat Kohli and his men will be on their high horses and hoping to seal the upcoming ODI encounters and complete a hat-trick. 

Meanwhile, the current ODI World Cup champions will be coming into the 50-over fixtures with a clean slate given they have nothing to lose at this stage. For England, given the upcoming T20I World Cup, the ODI series is more of a formality. 

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The Eoin Morgan-led side have rested there key players in Joe Root and Chris Woakes, while fast-bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the rest of the tour with an elbow injury.

However, the absentees give England an opportunity to shuffle their lineup and take baby steps towards preparing for the defense of their World Cup in 2023. 

Morgan has a choice to make on how he means to shape up the team in the three-match series. While Moeen Ali, Sam Billings or Liam Livingstone could be on the list to fill up the No. 3 spot vacated by Joe Root, England could even choose to push Stokes up the order.

Livingstone, who is uncapped in ODI cricket, has been opening the batting for Lancashire and for the Perth Scorchers in their run to the Big Bash League final and could be handy at No. 3.

Meanwhile, pacer Reece Topley, who didn’t feature in any of the T20 games, could get a shout in the absence of Archer. Although injury has plagued the Ipswich-born, his prowess when he is fit is undeniable. 

Legspinner Matt Parkinson has also been with the England team since January but is yet to feature in either of the tours against India or Sri Lanka. While it’s difficult to look past Adil Rashid as the primary spinner, Morgan might opt for a second spinner in the batsman-friendly Maharashtra conditions.

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Although India will have momentum on their side, considering just ODI form exclusively, England have won two of their last five matches, while India have only sneaked out one victory.

While winning it won’t be on the top of the priority list for England, an ODI series victory against India on away soil without their second-highest run-getter in 50-overs cricket and their star pacer will surely feel a lot like redemption for Eoin Morgan and his men.