Jos Buttler Eyes Historic Milestone in England's ODI Series Opener vs India

Jos Buttler stands one run shy of becoming England’s all-time leading run-scorer in ODIs as the team prepares to face India in the series opener on 13 July 2026. England announced their playing XI, confirming Jacob Bethell’s debut as an opener while Buttler aims to etch his name in history.

Buttler needs just one run to surpass Eoin Morgan’s record of 7,244 ODI runs for England. The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has averaged 42.32 across 142 matches since his debut in 2011.

Jacob Bethell, 22, will open alongside Jason Roy, marking his first major international assignment. The middle order features Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Sam Curran, with Adil Rashid and Mark Wood leading the bowling attack.

Surpassing Morgan’s record would cement Buttler’s legacy as England’s most prolific ODI batsman. It comes amid debates over his form after a lean Test series against Australia, where he averaged 18.50 in five matches.

India, ranked second in ODIs, will rely on Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja to disrupt England’s batting lineup. The match at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff begins at 11:00 AM BST.

A strong performance in this three-match series could boost England’s morale ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Buttler’s leadership and form will be critical as they seek to regain momentum after a disappointing Ashes campaign.