England vs India: Hosts lose their star player in the three-match ODI series

Kuldeep Yadav with the ball and Rohit Sharma with the bat schooled the English side on their home soil in the first odi of the three-match series. The Chinaman was perfect with his line and lengths as he picked his career-best 6/25 in his spell of 10 overs. Whereas Rohit Sharma continued his rich form and registered his second century on this tour.

With England on the back foot in the series, they should win the second ODI to remain in the contention. But, the news coming from their camp is that the explosive Alex Hales has been ruled out of ODI series with a side strain. At the toss of the first ODI, Eoin Morgan said that Hales was the one who would have been benched irrespective of his injury if Stokes comes into the XI.

Who will replace him?

Alex Hales recent strong form in the Australia ODI series would have made him a brilliant option in the final XI given the hosts are on the back foot against the chinaman Kuldeep Yadav. ECB selectors were quick to announce his replacement in the form of Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan, who has played Tests and T20Is for his national team but is yet to get a chance in the ODI side.

With 0-1 down in the series, England will aim to comeback stronger in the remaining two games of the series. They will look at various options to counter India’s biggest weapon Kuldeep Yadav. The second ODI will be played at the Home of Cricket on Saturday and the final game takes place on 17th of July at Headingley.

Sam Curran released

Meanwhile, England team management released their young pacer Sam Curran for the ongoing T20 Blast tournament. He will play for Surrey against Sussex in Hove on Friday night. However, he will be back to the national side for the second ODI at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Saturday.

[interaction id=”5b470b2396df424a2caffa2e”]

Keep following CricTracker for more news and updates