The highly anticipated three-match ODI series between India and England kicks off on Thursday, with both teams looking to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming high-profile Champions Trophy. The first ODI will be played in Nagpur. This series holds immense significance for India and England, as they aim to solidify their squads and build momentum ahead of the global tournament.

One of the biggest talking points ahead of this series is the return of India's top-order stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Their presence will provide much-needed experience and stability to India's batting lineup. Kohli and Rohit will be key figures as India look to dominate in the ODIs and the subsequent Champions Trophy. .

Another major boost for India is the return of Mohammed Shami, who will be playing his first ODI since the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shami was highly effective in India's World Cup campaign, finishing as the tournament's highest wicket-taker. 

With the Champions Trophy on the horizon, this series presents an excellent opportunity for both India and England to get themselves ready for the major event. 

Young Indian stars like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul will also be eager to make an impact, while all-rounders like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja will play a crucial role in balancing the side. England, meanwhile, will hope to overcome their recent loss in the preceding five-match T20I series.

Head to head

Matches played: 107

India won: 58

England won: 44

Tied: 2

No Result: 3

India probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami

England probable XI: Jos Buttler (c), Ben Duckett,  Harry Brook, Joe Root, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith (wk), Philip Salt, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Mark Wood