ENG vs IND 2nd ODI: Following a dominant 6-wicket victory in the opening clash at Edgbaston, Shubman Gill’s Team India travels to Sophia Gardens in Cardiff tomorrow, aiming to seal the three-match ODI series. Harry Brook’s young England side will be desperate to put up a fight and keep the series alive as India eyes its second successive win.
Match Details
- Match: England (ENG) vs India (IND), 2nd ODI
- Series: India tour of England 2026
- Date: Tomorrow (Thursday, July 16, 2026)
- Time: 1:00 PM LOCAL | 12:00 PM GMT | 5:30 PM IST
- Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales
- Broadcast & Live Streaming (IN): Sony Sports Network / JioHotstar
Match Preview
India Analysis
India looks clinical in their fifty-over structure. In the first ODI, Axar Patel’s exceptional 4-wicket haul strangled the English batting, followed by a majestic 80-run anchor from skipper Shubman Gill to guide the chase safely. The squad boasts a highly balanced batting unit featuring veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, combined with the extreme bowling threat of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna.
England Analysis
England faces some tough questions after failing to defend 258 in Birmingham. While Joe Root (76) and Liam Dawson (68) fought hard with the bat, the top order of Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, and skipper Harry Brook fell too early to deep-seam bowling. With Jofra Archer spearheading the attack, England’s bowling unit needs early wickets at Cardiff to put the high-quality Indian lineup under any real pressure.
Pitch & Weather Report
Pitch Report (Sophia Gardens, Cardiff)
Historically, Cardiff offers a balanced wicket that provides great bounce and seam movement for the pacers early in the game. As the match progresses, batters can play through the line.
- Average Score: 220–245 runs.
- Toss Factor: Given the overcast English conditions, the captain winning the toss will likely choose to bowl first to exploit early seam moisture.
Weather Report
The forecast suggests cool weather in Cardiff with typical English overcast clouds. There is a 20% chance of a passing light shower, but we should still see a complete 50-over match with minimal interruptions.
Probable Playing11s
India
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar.
England
Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Adil Rashid.
ENG vs IND Dream11 Fantasy Picks
- Top Captaincy Picks:
- Shubman Gill (IND): High-flying form following a match-winning 80 at Edgbaston.
- Axar Patel (IND): Extremely valuable with both ball and bat, fresh off a 4-wicket masterclass in the first ODI.
- Top Vice-Captaincy Picks:
- Joe Root (ENG): The anchor of the English batting lineup who compiled a smooth 76 in the last match.
- Jasprit Bumrah (IND): A massive threat with the new ball under Cardiff’s overcast skies.
Suggested Dream11 Team (Head-to-Head & Small Leagues)
- Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul
- Batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Joe Root (VC), Shubman Gill (C)
- All-rounders: Axar Patel, Liam Dawson, Sam Curran
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer, Prasidh Krishna
Match Prediction
With the current balance of the squad, a solid top-order anchor, and momentum from the 1st ODI, India enters as favorites (55% win probability) to win the 2nd ODI and clinch the series in Wales.
