England and India meet in the second ODI of the three-match series at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Thursday, with the visitors holding a 1-0 advantage. India will aim to seal the series, while England must bounce back after a disappointing defeat in the opening match.
Match details
Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Date: July 16, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM IST, 5:00 PM PST, 12:00 PM GMT
Team overviews
India head into the second ODI with momentum after a commanding six-wicket victory in the series opener. The visitors restricted England to 258 after recovering from an early setback and then chased down the target comfortably. Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a fluent 80 before retiring hurt, while Axar Patel and Washington Sundar completed the chase with an unbeaten century partnership. India now require one more victory to clinch the three-match series.
England will look to respond strongly after failing to capitalize on a promising start in the first ODI. Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell added 61 for the opening wicket, but a dramatic middle-order collapse left the hosts struggling at 107 for 6. Joe Root and Liam Dawson rescued the innings with a valuable 121-run partnership for the seventh wicket, helping England reach a competitive total. Harry Brook’s side must produce a stronger all-round performance to keep the series alive.
Key players
Joe Root remains England’s biggest batting hope. The experienced right-hander has enjoyed outstanding ODI form since 2025 and once again demonstrated his class with an unbeaten 76 in the opening match. Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell will aim to provide another solid foundation, while Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid will be crucial with the ball.
India will once again rely on their experienced core. Jasprit Bumrah looked sharp in his return to ODI cricket and claimed his 150th ODI wicket in the first match. Axar Patel produced a complete all-round performance with four wickets and an unbeaten half-century, while Washington Sundar also impressed with a composed fifty. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul add considerable experience to India’s batting unit.
Head-to-head record
England and India have faced each other 111 times in One-Day Internationals.
- Matches played: 111
- England wins: 44
- India wins: 62
- Tied: 2
- No Result: 3
India hold a clear historical advantage and extended their lead with victory in the first ODI of this series.
Pitch report
Sophia Gardens in Cardiff generally offers a balanced batting surface with reliable bounce and carry throughout the match. Fast bowlers usually receive assistance during the opening overs through lateral movement, making disciplined seam bowling important with the new ball. As the innings progresses, hit-the-deck pacers can continue extracting assistance, especially during the middle and death overs.
The venue features relatively large square boundaries, extending beyond 75 metres in some areas, while the straight boundaries remain shorter. Batters who play down the ground can score more freely, whereas bowlers who vary their pace and maintain accurate lengths are likely to enjoy success.
Probable playing XIs
England (Captain: Harry Brook)
- Ben Duckett
- Jacob Bethell
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook (Captain)
- Jos Buttler (Wicketkeeper)
- Liam Dawson
- Will Jacks
- Brydon Carse
- Jofra Archer
- Adil Rashid
- Josh Tongue
India (Captain: Shreyas Iyer)
- Ishan Kishan
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Shivam Dube
- Arshdeep Singh
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Prasidh Krishna
Probable best performers
Probable best batter: Joe Root
Joe Root continues to rank among the world’s most consistent ODI batters. His unbeaten 76 in the opening match rescued England from a difficult position and highlighted his ability to anchor an innings under pressure. England will once again depend on Root to build a substantial score in the middle overs.
Probable best bowler: Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah made an impressive return to ODI cricket after a long absence from the format. Although he claimed only one wicket in the opening game, his accuracy, movement, and control consistently troubled England’s batters. He will lead India’s pace attack again and remains a major wicket-taking threat.
Live streaming and broadcast
India: Sony Sports Network channels on television. JioHotstar app and website for live streaming.
Pakistan: No official television broadcaster has been confirmed. Streaming availability depends on regional rights holders.
United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event for television coverage. Sky Go and NOW for live streaming.
Australia: Fox Cricket on television. Kayo Sports for live streaming.
Global viewers: Coverage varies by region through official broadcasters and licensed streaming services based on local media rights.
Match prediction
England possess the quality to bounce back, particularly with home conditions and an experienced batting lineup led by Joe Root. However, India’s balanced combination, dominant bowling attack, and confidence from the opening victory make them slight favorites heading into Cardiff. The surface should offer opportunities for both batters and seam bowlers, making execution in key moments decisive. Based on current form and the available match outlook, the chasing team appears better placed to secure victory.
