2nd ODI Cardiff: Kishan replaces ill Rahul as England elect to bowl
Synopsis
KL Rahul's illness hands Ishan Kishan an unexpected ODI start at Cardiff, while England bring in Atkinson and Mahmood chasing seam and swing. With India one win from a series, and both captains saying they'd have bowled first, the pitch is the third player — and it could decide the series.
Key Takeaways
Ishan Kishan replaces an ill KL Rahul as wicketkeeper for India in the 2nd ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on 16 July .
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and elected to bowl, hoping for seam movement and swing.
England made two changes — Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood replace Josh Tongue and Liam Dawson .
India lead the three-match ODI series 1-0 following their win at Edgbaston.
India captain Shubman Gill said his side is targeting 'another good one' after a 'near-perfect game' in the opener.
Ishan Kishan stepped in as wicketkeeper-batsman for an ailing KL Rahul as India faced England in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Thursday, 16 July, with England captain Harry Brook winning the toss and opting to field first. India enter the contest leading the three-match series 1-0 after their victory at Edgbaston.
Team Changes and Toss
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in an official update that 'KL Rahul was unavailable for selection due to illness,' leaving Kishan as the sole forced change for the visitors. England, meanwhile, made two deliberate alterations — introducing fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood in place of Josh Tongue and Liam Dawson — a clear signal of intent to exploit seam-friendly conditions at the Welsh venue.
What the Captains Said
Brook was candid about England's plans and their resolve after the series opener. 'It's a nice, even spread of grass. Hopefully, we can get a bit of seam movement and swing up front. We need to execute slightly better. I've always said we are never out of games, and I thought we put up a really good fight in the last game to take it that deep. It was an awesome effort from the guys, and we need some more of that,' the England skipper said at the toss.
India captain Shubman Gill struck a confident note, indicating his side would have made the same call. 'We'd have bowled first as well. We're doing well. We had a near-perfect game last time out; hopefully, we're going to have another good one. We started well, and it was great to see fast bowlers do well. Very good memories here,' Gill said.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna.
England: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood.
Context and What to Watch
Sophia Gardens has historically assisted seam and swing, making Brook's decision to field first a calculated gamble. England's decision to bring in two specialist pace bowlers underscores their intent to test India's batting in helpful conditions. Notably, Gill referenced 'very good memories' at Cardiff, suggesting India's recent record at the ground works in their favour.
With Jasprit Bumrah leading India's pace attack and Atkinson and Mahmood freshly introduced for England, the powerplay overs could prove decisive. India will be looking to seal the series with a match to spare, while England must win to stay alive in the contest.
Point of View
But the real story is India's depth: a forced change due to illness still leaves them with one of world cricket's most complete batting line-ups. Brook's admission that England needed to 'execute slightly better' is telling — they were competitive at Edgbaston but not clinical. If Atkinson and Mahmood fail to exploit Cardiff's conditions early, India's top order, anchored by Rohit, Kohli, and Gill, has the firepower to put the series beyond reach. England's window is narrow, and their margin for error is thinner still.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is KL Rahul not playing in the 2nd ODI against England?
KL Rahul has been ruled out of the second ODI at Cardiff due to illness, according to an official BCCI statement. Ishan Kishan has taken his place in the playing XI and will keep wickets for India.
Who won the toss in the India vs England 2nd ODI at Cardiff?
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bowl first at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, hoping to exploit seam movement and swing in the conditions.
What changes did England make to their playing XI for the 2nd ODI?
England brought in fast bowlers Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood, replacing Josh Tongue and Liam Dawson. The changes reflect a pace-heavy approach suited to Cardiff's seam-friendly pitch.
What is the current series score between India and England?
India lead the three-match ODI series 1-0 after winning the first game at Edgbaston. A win in Cardiff would seal the series for India with one match remaining.
What did Shubman Gill say ahead of the 2nd ODI?
India captain Shubman Gill said his side would also have chosen to bowl first and expressed confidence after a 'near-perfect game' in the opener. He noted 'very good memories' at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
