ENG vs IND 2026: Why is KL Rahul not playing in the 2nd ODI?

After an emphatic win in the first match where the visiting batters looked extremely comfortable in the middle to complete a clinical run chase, the second ODI of the series is seeing India (IND) enter the contest against England (ENG) without their star wicketkeeper-cum-batter KL Rahul. The match is being played at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff as The Three Lions are bowling first.

The toss went in favour of the English side after Shubman Gill called it incorrectly at the toss. Harry Brook, the host captain, revealed his team's decision of bowling first. Brook further added that they are playing this contest with the intention of executing plans from the previous encounter in a better manner and getting a favourable result on the board. Gill confirmed one change to the line-up, with England also making one.

As Gill revealed a change in the line-up for the match on Thursday, July 16, he confirmed that KL Rahul won't be taking part in the match since the latter is down with illness. In Rahul's stead, the Men in Blue welcomed Ishan Kishan to the set-up, asking the left-hander to make his debut against England in the format. He will also be taking the charge with gloves in this contest.

England, on the other hand, made a couple of changes. Brook said that Josh Tongue and Liam Dawson have made way for the incoming Saqib Mehmood and Gus Atkinson.

"We would have bowled first as well. (How are you keeping?) Doing well, and yes, very happy and very pleased we had a near-perfect game last game. So hopefully we’re going to have another good game. (Very clinical last game and a good bowling performance.) Yeah, definitely. I think we had a good 6-7 overs in the powerplay, and then we were put under pressure at the end of the powerplay.

"But I think how we came back in the middle overs, fast bowlers taking wickets – it was just tremendous to see. (For you, it’s coming back home. You played a season here. Yes, I did. I played a season here with Glamorgan; very good memories there. So hopefully I will have another one to add on to those memories. (Any changes?) Yeah, we’ve got one change: KL is sick, so he misses out, and Ishan Kishan comes back in."

We’re gonna have a bowl today. (Talks about the pitch) Yeah, nice even spread of grass. So hopefully we can get a little bit of seam movement and swing up front. (Anything you want to do differently here?) Just execute slightly better, I think.

I’ve always said we’re never out of games, and I thought we put up a really good fight last game. To take it that deep was an awesome effort from the guys, and yeah, some more of that really. (Team changes) Josh Tongue and Liam Dawson come out for Saqib (Mahmood) and Gus Atkinson.

Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna