England face India in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, with the tourists already 1-0 up in the three-match series and eyeing a series win with a match to spare.
India ended a miserable run on this UK tour with a six-wicket victory in the series opener at Edgbaston, where Axar Patel’s all-round display an unbeaten 57 followed by 4/62 undid an England side that lost five wickets for just 20 runs in the middle overs. England will be desperate to avoid falling 2-0 behind, with home advantage and a reasonable record at this ground behind them.
This preview covers squads, recent form, conditions at Sophia Gardens, the head-to-head record, and our prediction for the second ODI.
England vs India 2nd ODI – Details
The tourists can seal the series here; a home win sends the contest to a decider at Lord’s on July 19.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | 2nd ODI, ENG vs IND |
| Series | India tour of England 2026 (3-match ODI series) — India lead 1-0 |
| Date | Thursday, 16 July 2026 |
| Venue | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff |
| Time (Local, BST) | 1:00 PM |
| Time (India) | 5:30 PM IST |
Winning Odds For England vs India
| Platform | ENG Win Odds | IND Win Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.91 | 1.80 |
| 4rabet | 1.95 | 1.84 |
| BetVibe | 1.99 | 1.88 |
| Stake | 1.86 | 1.75 |
England & India Squads For the ODI Series
Harry Brook’s England go into this match having lost their first ODI in front of home supporters at Edgbaston since 2014, with the middle order Brook, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran and Will Jacks combined for just 26 runs the chief concern. Joe Root and Liam Dawson salvaged a par total in the series opener and will need support if England are to level the series.
Shubman Gill’s India, by contrast, arrived full of confidence after ending a seven-match winless run on this tour. The returning senior trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have already made an impact, while Axar Patel’s all-round showing gives the think tank a selection headache ahead of Cardiff.
England
Harry Brook (c), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Banton, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, James Coles, Sam Curran, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Brydon Carse.
India
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav.
England vs India 2nd ODI – Pitch & Weather Report
The second ODI between England and India will be played at Sophia Gardens, a ground that has generally offered a fair contest between bat and ball across its ODI history.
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | Sophia Gardens offers a balanced surface good pace and bounce early, easing for batting as the innings progresses. |
| Batting Conditions | The first-innings average at this venue is around 223, dropping to roughly 209 in the second innings; totals in the 250-270 range have generally proved competitive. |
| Bowling Assistance | Seamers get early movement and bounce with the new ball; spinners find grip through the middle overs once the surface dries out. |
| Toss Factor | Cardiff has leaned toward chasing sides in recent seasons, with the team bowling first winning a clear majority of ODIs played here. |
Weather Report
Here’s a look at the weather conditions expected for the match.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Highs in the mid-to-high 20s°C, with cooler conditions expected once the evening session begins. |
| Weather | Mostly cloudy to partly sunny conditions are forecast, with some early cover for the new-ball bowlers. |
| Precipitation | Only a slight chance of a passing shower; no major rain interruption is currently expected. |
| Humidity & Wind | Moderate humidity with light-to-moderate winds — minimal expected impact on play. |
England vs India – Head to Head in ODI History
England and India have built one of the longest-running rivalries in ODI cricket, facing each other in 111 matches since their first meeting in 1974. India lead the head-to-head record with 62 victories to England’s 44, while two matches have ended in a tie and three produced no result. India’s six-wicket win in the first ODI of the 2026 series further strengthened their advantage.
| Matches | England Wins | India Wins | Tied | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | 44 | 62 | 2 | 3 |
At Sophia Gardens, India have won three of their four previous ODIs, with their only defeat at the venue coming against England in 2011. The visitors also swept England 3-0 in their most recent bilateral ODI series in 2025 and carried that momentum into the current tour with a six-wicket victory in the series opener at Edgbaston.
Players to Watch for England vs India
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill (IND) | India’s new ODI captain top-scored with 80 off 75 in the series opener before retiring hurt with cramp; his fitness is a genuine talking point heading into Cardiff. |
| Axar Patel (IND) | Player of the Match in the 1st ODI with an unbeaten 57 and 4/62 — form that has reignited the debate over his place ahead of Washington Sundar. |
| Jasprit Bumrah (IND) | Back in India’s ODI set-up for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final and looked sharp at Edgbaston, dismissing Harry Brook among his wickets. |
| Joe Root (ENG) | England’s most consistent batter in this series, unbeaten on 76 in the 1st ODI and the standout run-scorer in the rivalry over the past year. |
| Liam Dawson (ENG) | Made 68 in the series opener, his highest ODI score at the age of 36, and will be central to any England recovery with bat or ball. |
| Jofra Archer (ENG) | England’s leading pace threat; a wicket-taking burst with the new ball at Sophia Gardens would go a long way to levelling the series. |
Winner Prediction
India head into the second ODI with momentum after a convincing win at Edgbaston and hold a strong record at Sophia Gardens, having won three of their four ODIs at the venue. Their experienced batting unit and balanced bowling attack make them slight favourites to clinch the series.
England, however, will look to bounce back on a familiar ground, with Joe Root’s consistency and home advantage offering hope of a response. Even so, India’s recent form gives them a narrow edge heading into Cardiff.
