England (ENG) face India (IND) in the 2nd ODI of a three-match series on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, starting 5:30 PM IST (1:00 PM BST). India lead the series 1-0 after a commanding six-wicket win at Edgbaston and can wrap it up here with a match to spare.
For your Dream11 team, Shubman Gill is the standout captain pick after his fluent 80 in the series opener. Meanwhile, Joe Root makes an ideal vice-captain choice given his consistency at number three and his standing as England’s all-time leading ODI run-scorer.
ENG vs IND 2nd ODI Match Details
| Match Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs India, 2nd ODI 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, July 16, 2026 |
| Time | 5:30 PM IST (1:00 PM BST) |
| Venue | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Wales |
| Broadcast (India) | Sony Sports Network / JioHotstar app |
| Broadcast (UK) | Sky Sports Cricket / Sky Sports Main Event |
| England Captain | Harry Brook |
| India Captain | Shubman Gill |
| India Head Coach | Gautam Gambhir |
| Series Score | India lead 1-0 |
Our Dream11 Team Recommendation for ENG vs IND 2nd ODI 2026
ENG vs IND 2nd ODI Weather Report
Cardiff stays dry and sunny for this fixture, which removes rain interruption from the equation entirely.
| Weather Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 28°C (82°F) through the afternoon session, easing slightly once the sun dips in the evening |
| Rain Probability | 0 percent; the forecast shows a completely dry day in Cardiff |
| Sky Condition | Clear and sunny for the most part |
| Dew Factor | Minimal; with sunset in Cardiff close to 9:30 PM in mid-July, the evening overs stay dry underfoot |
| Match Interruption Risk | Very low, given the dry forecast |
Pitch Report for Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Sophia Gardens plays as a genuinely balanced surface, so both batters and bowlers get a fair say across the 50 overs.
| Pitch Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Balanced; seamers find early movement with the new ball, and spinners grip it as the surface wears |
| Historic ODI Record | 18 completed ODIs at the venue, with 8 won batting first and 10 won by the side chasing |
| Recent Toss Trend | Over the last decade, 8 of the venue’s 12 completed ODIs have gone the way of the chasing side |
| Avg 2nd Innings Score (ODI) | Around 212 runs, so a target in the 210-230 range is well within reach for either side |
| Highest ODI Total | 386/6, England vs Bangladesh |
| Lowest ODI Total | 125 all out, Afghanistan vs South Africa |
| Toss Decision (Our Call) | Bowl first; the recent trend at this ground clearly favours the chasing team |
Injury Updates
India: Shubman Gill’s fitness scare from the series opener, where he retired hurt on 80 due to cramps brought on by dehydration, has eased. He is expected to take the field in Cardiff, subject to a final fitness check. Rohit Sharma carries no injury concern, though his lack of a big score so far keeps him under the scanner.
Jasprit Bumrah marked a successful return to the format in Birmingham and looks fully fit. Harshit Rana remains out of this ODI series with a fitness issue, which keeps Gurnoor Brar Singh and Prasidh Krishna in the mix as India’s primary pace-bowling options alongside Arshdeep Singh, who waits in the wings.
England: Brydon Carse has been fast-tracked into the squad after recovering from injury and is in contention to feature at Sophia Gardens. Aside from that, England’s bowling unit that struggled in the series opener is expected to stay largely unchanged.
England vs India Head-to-Head (ODI)
| Category | India | England |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 110 | 110 |
| Matches Won | 61 | 44 |
| Tied | 2 | 2 |
| No Result | 3 | 3 |
What the Numbers Tell Us
Across more than five decades of ODI cricket, India hold a clear edge over England, with a 17-match win margin in a rivalry stretching back to 1974. That form has carried into this series too, as India’s six-wicket win at Edgbaston puts them 1-0 up with two matches remaining. Consequently, a win in Cardiff would hand India the series with a game to spare, a pleasing turnaround after their winless T20I leg of the tour.
Why Cardiff Could Be England’s Best Shot Yet
At this specific venue, however, England have the stronger recent record, with ten wins in fourteen completed ODIs at Sophia Gardens since 2010. Their head-to-head against India here reads 1-1, having lost by 133 runs on India’s last visit in 2014 but having won the corresponding fixture back in 2011.
Moreover, England will want home comfort and the added incentive of Brydon Carse’s extra pace to correct the bowling mistakes that cost them the series opener. As a result, if England’s top order finally clicks the way it did in the T20I leg of this tour, Cardiff gives them a genuine chance to level the series before the Lord’s decider.
Suggested Reads:
England vs India 2nd ODI Match Prediction, Preview & Odds
Key Players to Watch in ENG vs IND 2nd ODI, 2026
| Player | Team | Role | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | IND | Batter (C) | 453 runs in his last 7 ODI matches at a 113.25 average; scored 80 in the series opener before cramp forced him off the field. |
| Joe Root | ENG | Batter | England’s all-time leading ODI run-scorer with 7,598 runs; added 527 runs in his last 10 ODI matches at 65.87 average. |
| Virat Kohli | IND | Batter | Back in the ODI fold and in ominous touch, with 547 runs in his last 7 matches at a striking 91.16 average. |
| Jasprit Bumrah | IND | Bowler | Marked his ODI return in Birmingham, his first appearance in the format since the 2023 World Cup final, and looked sharp doing it. |
| Jofra Archer | ENG | Bowler | England’s most dangerous new-ball option; has taken 12 wickets across his last 6 ODI matches at a tidy 4.14 economy. |
| Adil Rashid | ENG | Bowler | 18 wickets in his last 10 ODI matches at a 5.20 economy; Cardiff’s later-innings turn should suit his leg-spin. |
