The stage is set for a blockbuster Cricket World Cup clash as cricketing heavyweights India and England square off Sunday at Ekana Sports City in Lucknow.
India have looked every bit the World Cup favorites, sitting flawlessly atop the table at 5-0. England, meanwhile, have floundered with just one victory in their first five outings. Despite their early struggles, the English remain dangerous – capable of beating any side if they live up to their potential.
Few rivalries in cricket match the intensity and history shared between these two nations, who have contested 106 ODIs over the years. India holds a slight historical edge at 57-44, but England has won four of their eight World Cup meetings.
India has been a model of ODI consistency recently, reaching the semifinals of the last two World Cups and holding the number one ranking. But England are the defending champions, though they’ve failed to recapture the magic of their triumphant 2019 campaign.
With the tournament at its halfway point, England will view this match as a golden chance to resuscitate their title defense. India will seek to continue their undefeated run. When these two proud cricketing nations meet with so much at stake, expect a thrilling contest between two world-class ODI sides.
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India Overview
India enter this marquee clash high on confidence, having won their first five matches of the World Cup emphatically. They have a fully fit squad at their disposal, including superstars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. The hosts have named a formidable 15-member squad, with enviably strong batting firepower and a varied bowling attack.
Openers Rohit and Shubman Gill have given India strong starts consistently. The middle order trio of Kohli, KL. Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are in good form as well. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav doing well with spin bowling options, while Bumrah leads the pace battery. India will be further boosted by excellent home conditions and vociferous home support.
England Overview
In contrast to India’s smooth progress, England has struggled so far in their World Cup title defense. They have lost four of their first five games, languishing at number nine on the points table, with their solitary win coming against Bangladesh.
Injuries have compounded England’s misery, with star opener Jonny Bairstow a doubt for this match due to a finger injury. All-rounder Liam Livingstone’s knee injury is another headache. Captain Jos Buttler and middle-order batsman Harry Brook are the only consistent performers with the bat so far.
The bowling unit lacks experience, with youngsters like Reece Topley and Mark Wood leading the pace attack. Adil Rashid will need to step up as the lead spinner. Overall, England’s squad balance seems iffy, and they have not hit their strides yet. Being up against in-form India in front of a massive crowd will make their task even tougher.
India vs England Starting XI
Expected Starting XI for India:
- Rohit Sharma
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- Lokesh Rahul
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammed Shami
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
Expected Starting XI for England:
- Jonny Bairstow (if fit)
- Dawid Malan
- Joe Root
- Ben Stokes
- Harry Brook
- Jos Buttler (c) (wk)
- Liam Livingstone (if fit)
- Sam Curran
- Adil Rashid
- Mark Wood
- Reece Topley
England has concerns over the fitness of Bairstow and Livingstone. If Bairstow is unable to play, Phil Salt could come in as opener, while Moeen Ali would replace Livingstone if he is ruled out. India has a settled XI with no major injury issues.
See the confirmed starting lineups below an hour before the match starts.
India vs England Head-to-Head
In 106 ODI meetings between the two cricketing heavyweights, India has the superior overall record with 57 wins compared to England’s 44 victories. Three matches ended in no result, while two were tied.
However, England has won four of the eight ODI World Cup clashes between the two sides, with India victorious on three occasions. One match, the 2019 World Cup group game between the sides, ended in a tie before India progressed to the semi-finals at England’s expense via a superior boundary count.
Considering England’s historical edge over India in World Cup matches, they will derive confidence going into this important Super 12 fixture. But India’s excellent recent ODI form and home advantage could neutralize England’s psychological edge to an extent.
Weather & Pitch Report
The match will take place at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, India. The weather forecast predicts ideal conditions for cricket, with sunny skies and temperatures around 32 degrees Celsius expected.
The pitch at Lucknow is usually a batting paradise, with relatively true bounce and pace allowing strokeplay. Teams batting first have averaged around 240-250 here in recent years. The outfield is lightning quick as well which aids aggressive batting.
However, the pitch can slow down as the game progresses, making run-scoring trickier against the older ball. The spinners can exploit this, using slower deliveries and flight to deceive the batsmen.
Dew is not forecast to be a major factor in the evening, which will reassure the team fielding second. Considering the batting-friendly conditions, a high scoring shootout seems likely unless the pitch plays unexpectedly slow.
India vs England Prediction
Based on current form and home advantage, India deserves to be rated as firm favorites in this mouthwatering clash. England’s poor form and injury woes weaken their chances significantly, even though they have a good overall ODI record against India.
India’s batting appears far more reliable, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in good touch. Suryakumar Yadav provides an x-factor as well. England is over-reliant on Buttler and Brook, with the likes of Stokes and Root struggling.
India also has a well-rounded bowling attack for all conditions. Bumrah, Shami and Siraj offer pace and swing, while the spin duo of Jadeja and Kuldeep give control in the middle overs. England’s young pace battery looks far less potent.
Considering India’s excellent squad balance, in-form players, and the raucous home crowd spurring them on, they should have enough firepower to overcome England and cement their position atop the World Cup points table.
India vs England Betting Tip
Given India’s batting might and home advantage, this match is likely to be a high-scoring affair. The Lucknow pitch and outfield both favor aggressive strokeplay. Rohit Sharma should be the prime pick if you are betting on a top match run-scorer. He relishes batting in India and has an excellent record against England.
Among the England players, the obvious choice is Jos Buttler, who will anchor their innings. His attacking prowess makes him a strong candidate for top scorer honors.
For most sixes in the match, look no further than India’s Suryakumar Yadav. His wide range of audacious shots can take any bowling apart. In the England camp, Liam Livingstone is the most prolific six hitter if he recovers from injury.
Considering the batting-friendly conditions, the match run rate should comfortably exceed 5.5 or even 6 runs per over. Chasing any total around 280+ should be achievable for both talented lineups.
So favor the bat over the ball while placing bets for this game. Back India’s top order and Suryakumar Yadav to take the bowlers apart and put on a spectacular batting display amid the carnival atmosphere in Lucknow.
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If you want to check out our other Cricket World Cup match predictions, you can find them on our site. In the meantime, you can check out how to bet on the Cricket World Cup.
