Following a demanding tour of Australia, the Indian cricket team is set to return home to face England in a white-ball series. The series will comprise five T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals, scheduled to take place in January-February 2025.
The ODI series holds particular significance for India, serving as crucial preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The team will aim to utilize this series to provide ample game time for their players, allowing them to regain form and fine-tune their skills before the prestigious tournament.
However, the Indian management faces a delicate balancing act in squad selection. The grueling Australian tour has undoubtedly taken its toll on the players, and ensuring their fitness and freshness for the Champions Trophy is paramount. Therefore, careful consideration will be given to resting some key players to prevent burnout and maintain peak performance for the upcoming challenges.
The ODI series against England presents an invaluable opportunity for the Indian team to assess their strengths and weaknesses, experiment with different combinations, and build momentum heading into the ICC Champions Trophy.
3 players India must rest for ODI series vs England 2025
#3 Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly a prime candidate for rest during the upcoming ODI series against England. The pacer delivered a phenomenal performance throughout the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, showcasing incredible resilience and a relentless work ethic.
Bumrah played all five Test matches, bowling a staggering 151.2 overs and emerging as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with an impressive tally of 32 scalps. He was the undisputed spearhead of the Indian bowling attack, consistently delivering crucial breakthroughs.
However, this immense workload has taken its toll. Bumrah sustained an injury during the final Test, raising concerns about his immediate fitness. While the team would undoubtedly benefit from his presence in the ODI series, prioritizing his long-term well-being and ensuring his availability for the crucial ICC Champions Trophy is of paramount importance.
By affording Bumrah a well-deserved break, the Indian management can effectively manage his workload, allowing him to recover fully and regain peak fitness before the demands of the Champions Trophy. This proactive approach will not only safeguard Bumrah’s health but also ensure that he is at his best when the team needs him most.
#2 Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj played the Australia series as India’s second pacer, sharing the responsibility of leading the attack along with Bumrah. In fact, Siraj bowled more than Bumrah, putting in 157.1 overs across five Tests. He managed to pick up 20 wickets as well.
While Siraj’s workload often goes unnoticed, it is to be noted that the pacer has played in almost every series, with Mohammad Shami being unavailable for a while due to his injury and fitness issues.
With Siraj being given a break to recover, India could also throw a few other bowlers in the mix to work out a solid combination for the Champions Trophy. This could allow them to have a strong bench as far as the pace attack is concerned as well.
#1 Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli’s recent Test performances against Australia have been a cause for concern. He managed to score just 190 runs across the five-match series, highlighting the challenges he faced throughout the grueling tour. 1 While his Test form may be a concern, Kohli’s ODI record remains impressive, having been the leading run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Both Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggled in the Test series, with Sharma managing only 31 runs across three matches. However, given Sharma’s significantly lower output in Tests, prioritizing his need for runs over Kohli might be a prudent decision.
Resting Kohli for the ODI series against England would provide an opportunity to experiment with different combinations in the middle order. Players like Riyan Parag, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant are all vying for spots in the team, and the series against England offers a valuable platform to assess their suitability for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
