“It’s about time for the ECB to announce the teams for ODIs and T20s against India sometime on the 20th of December. They will leave for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be played in a hybrid format. Joe Root returned to ODIs for the first time since the World Cup 2023 held for ODIs.
ECB Excludes Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes was not available for selection for the series. He has recently injured his left hamstring in the third and last test of the series against New Zealand at Seddon Park, Hamilton. This is the first time the England national cricket team will have their head coach of all forms, Brendon McCullum, seeing them as they tour limited formats. Among the greenhorns in this trip is leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed who will be appearing on the international scene in T20s. Fast bowler Mark Wood will be sorely missed as he is still recuperating from an elbow injury.
The first T20I of the series will take place on January 22, 2025, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The series will cease on February 2. The ODI series will commence on February 6 at VCA Stadium, Nagpur. The schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025 is still to be announced but is expected to begin on February 19.
Joe Root’s return
The most recent time Root played in the ODIs was against Pakistan. He made a 50 as England knocked off 93 runs. England, however, finished seventh on the points table, having only managed three wins from nine ODIs under the captaincy of Jos Buttler. Though Root has been hammering hundreds in Test cricket, he hasn’t scored one in ODIs for over five years. His last ODI ton was against West Indies in ODI World Cup 2019.
Root’s net run-in for his One-Day record against India reads 739 runs from 20 innings at an average of 43.47, packed with three centuries and as many half-centuries.
Rehan Ahmad Stats
Rehan has played 62 T20s so far (including The Hundred). The 20-year-old leg-spinner has 58 wickets at an average of 29.56. His economy rate is 8.06 runs per over. He has been handy with the bat down the order averaging 12.50. He has 400 runs from 44 innings including a high score of 49.
