In the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 clash, India will face England on Sunday at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. India, the only undefeated team in the tournament, holds the second position in the rankings. In contrast, England finds itself struggling, winning just one out of five games and residing near the bottom of the points table.
In their recent match against New Zealand, India won the toss and opted to bowl. New Zealand managed to score 273 runs in 50 overs, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 75 and Daryl Mitchell’s impressive 130. Mohammed Shami shone for India, taking five wickets for 54 runs.
India successfully chased down the 274-run target in 48 overs, securing a four-wicket victory, with Virat Kohli narrowly missing a century, scoring 95 runs off 104 balls. Conversely, England faced Sri Lanka in their last game and decided to bat first.
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However, their performance was dismal as they only managed to post 156 runs on the scoreboard, with Ben Stokes being the lone batsman to exceed 30 runs. Sri Lanka had no trouble chasing down the modest target, winning the match with eight wickets to spare in just 25.4 overs.
India
Will India opt to include R Ashwin in their lineup for this match, considering England’s lineup with several left-handers and conditions that seem favorable for spin bowling? This decision will certainly weigh on their minds, along with the challenge of choosing the right pacers.
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After Mohammed Shami’s impressive five-wicket haul, there may be a strong inclination to stick with him, possibly sidelining Mohammad Siraj, who hasn’t been in top form during this World Cup, despite his prior stellar performances. This decision presents a tough choice for the team.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin/Mohammad Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami
England
Despite their recent loss, England might consider fielding a similar eleven. If the pitch provides some grip, they might be tempted to bring Sam Curran back into the fold. Liam Livingstone’s all-round capabilities could be under scrutiny, with Harry Brook waiting for his opportunity to shine and potentially challenging Livingstone’s place in the lineup.
Probable XI: Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone/Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Shubman Gill (c), Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami (vc)
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Joe Root (vc), Shubman Gill, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj
