England captain Harry Brook won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the series-deciding third ODI at Lord’s on Sunday. Both sides have entered the winner-takes-all finale with critical adjustments to their lineups.
India has been compelled to make two injury-driven changes, as Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar have been ruled out. Meanwhile, KL Rahul returns to the playing XI after sitting out the second ODI.
Injury Blows for India
The Indian squad will miss the services of premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who is sidelined due to reactive swelling in his left knee—the result of an impact injury sustained while fielding during the second ODI in Cardiff.
Washington Sundar is also unavailable for the decider after suffering a hamstring injury, necessitating further tactical reshuffling. Arshdeep Singh steps in for Bumrah in the bowling attack, while Prince Yadav replaces Sundar in the lineup.
Additionally, KL Rahul returns to the side, replacing wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan.
England Maintain Momentum
England have opted to stick with the core lineup that secured a four-wicket victory in Cardiff to level the series. Harry Brook chose to bat first on a surface expected to favor batsmen, though the legendary Lord’s slope and early swing may still offer an advantage to the Indian seamers in the opening stages.
India Playing XI
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
England Playing XI
Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue.
Series Decider at the Home of Cricket
With the series locked at 1-1, Sunday’s match will determine the ultimate winner of the three-game series.
The encounter also marks a historic milestone for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who become the first Indian duo to appear together in 400 international matches. Amidst the action, speculation persists regarding Rohit’s future in ODI cricket, although no official confirmation of a retirement has been issued by the player or the BCCI.
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