England batsman Joe Root will make his first ODI appearance since 2023 after being named in the team to face India in the opening match of the series in Nagpur on Thursday.

NAGPUR, India — Joe Root is back in England's ODI team for the first time since the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The 34-year-old Root will bat at No. 3 in the first match of the one-day international series against India in Nagpur on Thursday. It will be his 172nd ODI appearance for England.

Narendra Modi Stadium in Nagpur has faced pitch-related controversies in the past, but for the upcoming ODI between India and England, a new hard surface has been prepared. Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill emphasized the unpredictability of the wicket and mentioned some grass may be retained to maintain moisture.

India will face England in the 1st ODI of the bilateral series in Nagpur on Thursday. Here are the weather forecast for Nagpur, predicted playing XIs and head-to-head records of the IND Vs ENG ODIs

Joe Root will come to play in the ODI series after a successful stint in South Africas T20 tournament. Root gathered 279 runs at an average of 55 and a strike rate of 140.

Virat also has an excellent record against England’s key bowlers for this series, averaging 36 against Adil Rashid in both ODIs (108/3) and T20Is (72/2) whilst the speedsters Mark Wood and Jofra Archer have combined to dismiss him just once for 157 runs conceded in either format.

The England Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday announced their playing eleven for the upcoming first ODI match of the series against India at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The first match of the ODI series between the Men in Blue and the Three Lions will be played on Thursday at 1:30 PM.

England have announced their playing XI for the first ODI against India which is scheduled to be played on February 6 in Nagpur