India vs England 2026 ODI Series: England Fight Back to Win the Series 2-1

England have won a thrilling three-match ODI series against India 2-1, coming from behind after India took the first game, to seal victory in a series decider for the ages at Lord's on July 19, 2026.

The series, part of India's white-ball tour of England, followed a five-match T20I series that England had already won 4-0. The 50-over leg proved far more competitive, swinging back and forth across all three venues before England closed it out at the home of cricket.

First ODI : India Break Their Duck at Edgbaston

India got their tour off to a winning start in the opening ODI at Birmingham, chasing down England's total of 258 with 262 for 4 in 45.2 overs to win by six wickets, with 28 balls to spare. It marked England's first ODI defeat at Edgbaston since 2014.

Axar Patel was the standout performer, earning Player of the Match honours with a rare all-round showing that included both a half-century and a four-wicket haul, becoming only the sixth Indian man to achieve the feat and the first since Hardik Pandya's effort against England in 2022. Shubman Gill also played a key hand in guiding the chase, while Jasprit Bumrah looked sharp with the ball on his return to ODI cricket.

Second ODI : England Level It Up in Cardiff

England responded in style in the day-night second ODI at Cardiff. Chasing India's total of 233, the hosts got home with 235 for 6 in 44.1 overs, winning by four wickets with 35 balls remaining to level the series at 1-1.

The match came at a cost for India, however, as Jasprit Bumrah picked up a knee injury during the game, while Washington Sundar suffered a hamstring issue. Both injuries would force changes to India's squad ahead of the series finale, with KL Rahul returning from illness to replace Shivam Dube, and Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav drafted in to strengthen the bowling attack.

Third ODI : Duckett and Bethell Set Up a Series-Clinching Win at Lord's

The decider at Lord's turned into a batting spectacle, and ultimately a changing of the guard moment for both sides. Before play, a minute's silence was observed in memory of the great Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away earlier in the week.

Put in to bat after England captain Harry Brook won the toss, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell put on a magnificent opening stand of 192, the highest partnership for any wicket against India and England's highest ODI opening stand since Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow's 115 against Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup. Duckett top-scored with 141, while Bethell fell agonisingly short of a hundred on just his third outing as an opener, making 91. Joe Root then anchored the innings with an unbeaten 74 off 48 balls, his sixth consecutive ODI half-century, before Jos Buttler produced a blistering unbeaten 41 off just 13 balls in the closing overs. The pair added 63 off the last five overs, propelling England to 387 for 3, the highest List A total ever recorded at Lord's and England's highest ODI total against India.

India's reply was built around a poignant, possibly final, English innings from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rohit brought up his 34th ODI century and struck a superb 138, while Kohli made a typically classy 74, his highest score at Lord's in international cricket, as the two veterans put on a century stand. Shubman Gill also chipped in with 77. But once Rohit fell, the required rate climbed out of reach, with Sam Curran's clever variations and a handy spell from part-timer Bethell restricting India's middle order. Despite a spirited finish, India were bowled out short at 360 for 7 in their 50 overs, going down by 27 runs to hand England the series 2-1.

Jacob Bethell was named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution of 91 with the bat and a wicket with the ball, while Joe Root was named Player of the Series after finishing as the competition's leading run-scorer with 249 runs. Rohit Sharma topped ESPNcricinfo's MVP standings for the match with 178.95 impact points, in what many fans are speculating could be one of his last ODI appearances in England alongside long-time teammate Kohli.

Series Summary

- 1st ODI, Birmingham (Edgbaston): India won by 6 wickets — India lead 1-0 - 2nd ODI, Cardiff (Day/Night): England won by 4 wickets — Series level 1-1 - 3rd ODI, Lord's: England won by 27 runs — England win series 2-1

Final result : England won the ODI series 2-1, having already claimed the preceding five-match T20I series 4-0.

With this result, England complete a white-ball whitewash of sorts over the summer, while India will now turn their attention to their next assignments, with selectors likely to assess the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar in the coming weeks.