All-rounder Ben Stokes makes return from hamstring injury in ODI series against India

Controversial British all-rounder Ben Stokes was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for a huge sum of 12.50 crore but failed to live up to that price tag over the course of the tournament as Ajinkya Rahane’s side failed to make the playoffs. Stokes was, however, picked for the Test series against Pakistan but dropped out before the second match as he suffered a hamstring injury in the build up to the game.

As a consequence, Stokes missed England’s triumphant 5-0 whitewash of the Australian team earlier this week and looked set to miss the series against India as well. But as fate would have it, the lad from Durham was named in the England ODI squad to face off against the Indians in a three-match series. The 27-year old New Zealand born player was also due to play for Durham in their Twenty20 match against Yorkshire on July 5.

"If he can prove his fitness on his return to competitive cricket, Stokes is also in contention to return to the T20 squad for the third T20 against India in Bristol on Sunday, July 8," read the statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB also gave some encouraging words to Warwickshire and RCB pacer Chris Woakes, who was recovering from a torn right quad and a long-standing knee injury which he triggered in the second Test against Pakistan.

"If he (Woakes) proves his fitness, he could be added to the squad during the latter part of the ODI series," said the ECB.

Squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Mark Wood

Match schedule:

1st ODI, England v India, Thursday, July 12. Trent Bridge, Nottingham

2nd ODI, England v India, Saturday, July 14. Lord's, London

3rd ODI, England v India, Tuesday, July 17. Headingley, Leeds