England and India face off in a winner-takes-all third ODI at Lord's, with the hosts electing to bat first after captain Harry Brook won the toss. Brook described the surface as favorable for high scoring, a notable comment given the ICC's recent reprimand of the venue for an unsatisfactory pitch during a Test match against New Zealand last month.
Both sides have shuffled their lineups for the series decider. England made a single change, bringing in Josh Tongue to replace Saqib Mahmood. Tongue, who debuted in the opening match at Edgbaston, returns to the fold for this final encounter.
India has implemented three alterations, two of which were necessitated by injuries. Captain Shubman Gill confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah is sidelined after suffering an impact injury to his left knee while fielding in Cardiff. Additionally, Washington Sundar is unavailable due to a hamstring injury sustained during the second ODI. Shivam Dube was left out for tactical reasons. To bolster the squad, KL Rahul returns following his recovery from illness, while Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav have also been included in the starting XI. This selection gives the Indian side a seam-heavy composition, with Axar Patel serving as the sole spinner.
A victory for England would mark only their eighth win in 22 bilateral 50-over series against India, potentially easing the pressure on head coach Brendon McCullum following his recent departure from the Test coaching role. For India, the match carries added significance amid reports suggesting it could be the final international appearance for Rohit Sharma. Securing a win at the Home of Cricket, where India has not triumphed since 2004, would provide a poignant conclusion to the series.
England : 1 Ben Duckett, 2 Jacob Bethell, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Sam Curran, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Adil Rashid
Prince YadavArshdeep SinghJosh TongueJasprit BumrahKL RahulIndiaEnglandEngland vs IndiaIndia tour of England
