The T20I leg of India’s tour of the United Kingdom could hardly have gone worse. Defeats in Ireland were followed by another chastening series loss in England, leaving the defending world champions bruised, short on confidence, and facing uncomfortable questions about the direction of the shortest format.

But the good news for Indian cricket is that T20Is are now off the schedule until October. The spotlight shifts back to ODI and Test cricket, and with it comes the return of the format’s biggest names. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are all back in the fold, offering India a chance to reset after a miserable few weeks.

Rohit may not have enjoyed the most prolific year in the only international format he now plays, but England has traditionally brought out the very best in him. The Indian captain averages 64 in ODIs in England and has scored seven centuries there. If there is one venue where Rohit can rediscover his authority at the top of the order, it is this one.

Virat Kohli, meanwhile, returns after recovering from injury. ODI cricket remains his strongest format, and expectations will once again be sky-high. Kohli has averaged 80 in the format this year, underlining that even at this stage of his career, he remains India’s most dependable batter in 50-over cricket. Fans will expect him to resume exactly where he left off.

Shubman Gill also has plenty riding on this series. Widely regarded as one of the finest ODI batters in world cricket, Gill is still searching for his first ODI hundred on English soil. More importantly, this will be his first opportunity as ODI captain after the disastrous T20I tour under Shreyas Iyer. While Gill was not responsible for those defeats, he now has the task of lifting the mood around an Indian side whose confidence has clearly taken a hit.

There is another subplot involving Iyer. His stint as India’s T20I captain could scarcely have begun more poorly, with successive series defeats to Ireland and England inviting heavy criticism from fans and pundits alike. Fortunately for Iyer, ODI cricket has always been a very different story. He has established himself as one of India’s most reliable middle-order batters in the format, particularly against high-quality pace and spin attacks. This series gives him an opportunity to remind supporters why he remains such a valuable asset in 50-over cricket. A few substantial innings would quickly shift the conversation from questions about his leadership to appreciation of his batting.

Rahul is another senior player with plenty to prove. While his experience makes him a natural choice, Ishan Kishan continues to push hard for opportunities, ensuring Rahul cannot afford a quiet series.

Then there is Bumrah. Incredibly, India’s premier fast bowler has not played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup final, with the BCCI carefully managing his workload for ICC tournaments. His return could prove decisive. India’s bowling looked alarmingly short of bite throughout the T20 leg of the tour, and Bumrah’s ability to control games with both the new ball and at the death could transform the attack overnight.

After everything that unfolded in the T20s, India desperately needs a response. Fortunately for them, ODI cricket has long been the format where their biggest stars have built their reputations. Now comes the opportunity to prove that the struggles of the past few weeks were an exception rather than the beginning of a worrying trend.