England and India meet in the series-deciding third ODI at Lord’s on Sunday after the hosts leveled the contest with a four-wicket victory in Cardiff. Both teams have one win each, setting up a high-stakes finale at the Home of Cricket.
Match details
Venue: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Date: July 19, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM IST, 3:00 PM PST, 10:00 AM GMT
Team overviews
England enter the deciding ODI with renewed confidence after a composed chase in the second match. The hosts dismissed India for 233 after reducing the visitors from a strong position of 178 for 3, thanks to disciplined bowling from Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, and Gus Atkinson. Joe Root then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 99, while Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and Gus Atkinson all made valuable contributions as England won by four wickets with 5.5 overs remaining.
India will aim to recover quickly after letting a commanding position slip away in Cardiff. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer laid the foundation with half-centuries, but the batting lineup collapsed dramatically, losing seven wickets for just 55 runs. India’s bowling attack created opportunities throughout England’s chase, with Jasprit Bumrah continuing to bowl with control and accuracy, but the visitors could not prevent Root from guiding England home. With the series tied 1-1, India will look to deliver a complete performance in the decider.
Key players
Joe Root remains England’s most dependable batter. His unbeaten 99 in the second ODI demonstrated his ability to control the innings under pressure, and he enters the decider in outstanding form. Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, and Gus Atkinson also impressed with the ball and will again lead England’s pace attack.
India will once again rely on Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer to stabilize the batting order after both scored impressive fifties in Cardiff. Captain Shubman Gill returns to lead the side, while Jasprit Bumrah remains India’s biggest bowling threat with his consistency, pace, and ability to create chances at every stage of the innings.
Head-to-head record
England and India have now met 112 times in One-Day Internationals.
- Matches played: 112
- England wins: 45
- India wins: 62
- Tied: 2
- No Result: 3
Although India still lead the overall head-to-head record, England narrowed the gap by winning the second ODI to level the current series.
Pitch report
Lord’s traditionally offers assistance to seam bowlers, particularly during the early stages of an innings. The surface generally provides consistent bounce and carry, while the famous Lord’s Slope helps bowlers generate additional movement and challenging angles. Batters who survive the opening spell can score freely once conditions settle, but disciplined pace bowling often proves decisive.
The straight boundaries are longer than the square boundaries, making placement an important factor for batters. Captains winning the toss are expected to bowl first and attempt to exploit any early moisture available on the surface.
Probable playing XIs
England (Captain: Harry Brook)
- Ben Duckett
- Jacob Bethell
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook (Captain)
- Jos Buttler (Wicketkeeper)
- Sam Curran
- Will Jacks
- Gus Atkinson
- Jofra Archer
- Adil Rashid
- Saqib Mahmood
India (Captain: Shubman Gill)
- Shubman Gill (Captain)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
- Axar Patel
- Shivam Dube
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Gurnoor Brar
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Prasidh Krishna
Probable best performers
Probable best batter: Joe Root
Joe Root has been England’s standout performer throughout the series. He followed up another outstanding innings with an unbeaten 99 in Cardiff and has remained unbeaten across his last three ODI innings. His ability to build partnerships and guide run chases makes him England’s biggest batting asset heading into the decider.
Probable best bowler: Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has consistently troubled England’s batters despite taking only one wicket in each of the first two matches. His accuracy, movement, and control with the new ball and at the death continue to make him India’s most dangerous bowler. He will be crucial if India are to regain the series.
Probable match scenarios
Scenario 1: England bowl first. India score between 50 and 60 in the powerplay and finish with 285 to 305.
Scenario 2: India bowl first. England score between 45 and 55 in the powerplay and post 280 to 300.
The available match outlook indicates that the team bowling first holds the advantage.
Live streaming and broadcast
India: Sony Sports Network television channels. JioHotstar app and website for live streaming.
Pakistan: No official television broadcaster has been confirmed for Pakistan. Streaming availability depends on regional broadcast rights.
United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event on television. Sky Go and NOW for live streaming.
Australia: Fox Cricket on television. Kayo Sports for live streaming.
Global viewers: Official television channels and streaming platforms vary by region according to local broadcast agreements.
Match prediction
Both teams enter the final ODI with momentum on their side for different reasons. England recovered strongly in Cardiff through disciplined bowling and another masterclass from Joe Root, while India will take confidence from several strong individual performances despite their batting collapse. Lord’s should provide assistance to the seamers early, placing extra emphasis on handling the new ball effectively. With both sides evenly matched and the series level at 1-1, another closely contested match is expected. Based on the available conditions and match outlook, the team bowling first appears to hold a slight advantage in the series decider.
