1st ODI: England bat first vs India at Edgbaston as Rohit, Virat return
Synopsis
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in India's ODI XI as the first match of the England series gets underway at Edgbaston. England won the toss and batted, with Jos Buttler reaching 200 ODIs and Josh Tongue making his debut — setting up a contest that carries serious weight for both sides ahead of the Champions Trophy cycle.
Key Takeaways
England won the toss and elected to bat in the 1st ODI against India at Edgbaston Stadium , Birmingham , on 14 July .
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to India's ODI playing XI under captain Shubman Gill .
Jos Buttler became only the second England cricketer to play 200 ODIs , joining Eoin Morgan (225).
Fast bowler Josh Tongue made his ODI debut for England; Liam Dawson played his 50th international appearance.
India fielded four seamers — Bumrah, Krishna, Brar, Dube — alongside spin duo Axar Patel and Washington Sundar .
England captain Harry Brook opted for a two-spinner, three-seamer attack, expecting the surface to assist spin later.
England won the toss and elected to bat against India in the first One-Day International at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham, on 14 July, with the series marking the return of senior Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI setup. India captain Shubman Gill said he would have preferred to bowl first, but the match is underway with England setting the target.
Key Milestones at the Toss
The first ODI carried two significant personal landmarks for England. Wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler became only the second English cricketer to appear in 200 ODIs, joining former captain Eoin Morgan, who played 225. Fast bowler Josh Tongue made his ODI debut, while left-arm spinner Liam Dawson celebrated his 50th international appearance across all formats.
What the Captains Said
England captain Harry Brook said his side chose to bat first believing the surface would favour batting early before offering assistance to the spinners later in the match. Brook added that England would approach the ODI series with the same mindset as the T20s — quickly assessing conditions, maintaining clear communication, and adapting as the game progresses. He confirmed a balanced bowling attack of two spinners and three seamers, and expressed hope that the team could 'turn the page' after inconsistent ODI results in recent years.
India captain Shubman Gill noted that the conditions at Edgbaston were more similar to those in South Africa than what India typically encounters at home. He said the series would also be used to give opportunities to players with limited ODI experience. Gill welcomed the return of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah, saying their presence added valuable experience to the squad. Reflecting on his previous success in England during the Test series, Gill said he hoped to carry that form into the ODI campaign.
Playing XIs
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna.
England: Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Adil Rashid.
What to Watch
India's four-seamer attack — anchored by Bumrah and supported by Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, and Shivam Dube — will be tested against an England top order that includes Joe Root and Brook on a surface the home captain believes will spin later. The return of Rohit and Kohli gives India's batting a depth and experience it has lacked in recent bilateral ODI series. With the ICC Champions Trophy cycle in view, both sides have strong incentives to settle combinations early in this series.
Point of View
But the more consequential question is whether India's ODI middle order — which has rotated heavily in the past two years — can cohere around senior anchors in English conditions. Brook's toss decision reveals a tactical read that England expect the pitch to deteriorate, which would favour their two-spinner combination of Dawson and Rashid against an Indian batting card that leans heavily on experience over youth. Gill's comment about giving 'players with limited ODI experience' opportunities sits awkwardly alongside a playing XI that recalls four of India's most capped white-ball names — the squad balance question has not gone away.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the toss in the 1st ODI between India and England at Edgbaston?
England won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the 1st ODI at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham, on 14 July. Captain Harry Brook said the surface was expected to favour batting early before assisting spinners later.
Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing in the 1st ODI against England?
Yes, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in India's playing XI for the 1st ODI at Edgbaston. Their return adds significant experience to a squad captained by Shubman Gill.
What milestone did Jos Buttler achieve in the 1st ODI?
Jos Buttler became only the second England cricketer to play 200 ODIs, joining former captain Eoin Morgan, who played 225. Buttler is also keeping wicket for England in this match.
Who made their ODI debut for England in the Birmingham match?
Fast bowler Josh Tongue made his ODI debut for England in the 1st ODI against India at Edgbaston. Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson also marked his 50th international appearance across formats in the same match.
What are the full playing XIs for India and England in the 1st ODI?
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna. England: Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Adil Rashid.
