India looking to clinch the series in Cuttack
It has been a difficult trip to India for England thus far. Soundly beaten in the T20I series, they were well beaten in the opening ODI as well, going down by four wickets with 68 balls remaining.
The action in the second ODI moves to Cuttack, a venue where India have an excellent record. Having played 17 games at the Barabati Stadium, India have won 13 of them. The last time India was beaten at Cuttack was in 2003 when they went down to New Zealand.
England have played six games at the venue and have won 50% of them. They lost their last two here however although those games are now very much in the distant past – back in 2008 and 2017.
The Cuttack track is not expected to do many favors for the bowlers. If there is help it will be for the spinners. But this is a venue that historically has seen some very big scores posted – the last time these two sides met at the venue India scored 381 for six (with Yuvraj making 150 and MS Dhoni 134), but England came close in the chase as they reached 366 for eight.
India are the top ranked ODI side in the world, while England are seventh. India are playing at home. As much as there is excitement about a new-look England with a Brendan McCullum at the helm, it is not fair to expect them to perform miracles straight away.
In each of the last four games at the venue the team that won the toss elected to field first.
India v England | 2nd ODI | Sunday 9 February 2025 | Barabati Stadium, Cuttack | 10:00
India
He may still be ranked as the number two ODI batsman in the world, but Rohit Sharma’s form is not good at the moment. He was dropped from the Test team at the end of the tour to Australia and he failed again in the first ODI – out for just two.
Virat Kohli is the world’s number four rankled ODI batsman, and he didn’t play in the opening ODI as he rested a knee injury. He is due to play on Sunday and the big question is whose place will he take?
Ravindra Jadeja looked good for India in the opener with figures of three for 26 from nine overs. He could well be the best performer once again as the wicket is more likely to offer him a bit of assistance than it will for the quicks.
Jasprit Bumrah is without a doubt the best bowler in the world. He is not available for India and will be sorely missed. His place will be taken by Mohammed Shami who is back in the mix after a long injury layoff. Shami bowled a handful of overs in the T20I series and returned figures of one for 38 in eight in the first ODI. He may be rested for the Cuttack game if the pitch looks too flat and seamer hostile.
Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal made his ODI debut in Nagpur and while big things were expected from him, he was out for just 15. As much as India are looking to find a space for the returning Kohli, it is unlikely that they will sit the youngster out. He averages 52.88 in Tests and 36.15 in T20I – big things are expected from him and he will surely be left to find his groove.
England
England’s recent ODI form is not good. Heading into Sunday’s encounter they have just one win from their last five games. With the ICC Champions Trophy on the horizon, they will be desperate to find some sort of form.
Despite losing, there were some positives to take from the first ODI, especially the performance of young Jacob Bethell who scored a fantastic 51 batting in tandem with Jos Buttler. Still only 21 and in his ninth ODI, it was a performance that hinted at a big future.
England have not travelled with many spin options so Adil Rashid will be key. If he can get on top of the Indian batsmen with his variations it could spell trouble, but similarly, if India targets him and don’t let him settle it could be a big score.
Getting the basics right is key and the run out at the top of the order was a calamity for England in the first ODI. With Phil Salt looking to have found his groove (with 43 from 26), he then succumbed to a horror run out to gift India their first wicket. When opening partner Ben Duckett followed him back to the pavilion just two runs later, England’s excellent start was nullified and momentum swung towards India.
Joe Root was in excellent form in SA20. He made 19 in the first ODI before he became the first of Jadeja’s three wickets. He will want to go on to bigger scores in the second game, especially after he took a long time to play himself in, in the first game.
Root bowled a couple of overs in the opening game and could once again be a useful option, especially if the track is as flat as is expected.
Verdict: India
If England are going to win one, this is potentially the ground that will best suit their batsmen. But as much as it may suit England’s batters, it will suit India’s just as much. With a series on the line and their batting and bowling units firing superbly, this should be India’s once again.
