After the loss in the ODI series against New Zealand, the Indian team will be facing the challenge of taking on the Bangladesh team in their own backyard in a series of three ODIs beginning December 4.
Out of the three ODIs, the first two will be played in Dhaka on December 4 and 7, and the last ODI in Chattogram on December 10. The two teams will then face off in two Tests as well.
While the big guns were rested in the ODIs on the New Zealand tour, they will be back for the Bangladesh series, and keeping that in mind, here is the Team COC predicted Team India Playing XI for the first ODI in Dhaka.
Rohit Sharma will be back to lead the Indian team with Shikhar Dhawan as his opening partner as they prepare for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Dhawan has been struggling for runs with only one half-century in his last 7 ODI matches.
Rohit himself was in a bind during the T20Is this year, struggling to score at pace, but in ODIs, it is completely a different matter for him.
Virat Kohli would love to continue his good form from T20Is in ODIs as well and return back to scoring centuries in the 50-over format as well. He will make up the middle order with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul.
Iyer has been in golden form with the bat, while Rahul would need to adjust to batting in the middle order. Rishabh Pant will play the role of a finisher at no.6 and possibly keep wickets. He will be under pressure to perform.
Coming to the bowling options, since there is only one all-rounder in Washington Sundar, India will be left with only 5 bowling options including him as none of the batters bowl. If they want to include a sixth bowling option, the batting will be diluted.
Akshar Patel is expected to play as the second spinner. India management can also take a risk and play Shahbaz Ahmed as the third spinner, but one of the batters will have to be benched and even KL Rahul may be asked to keep wickets to make way for an extra bowler.
One of Shardul Thakur or Deepak Chahar is expected to be the third pacer and lengthen the batting. Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj are expected to be the frontline pacers in this series for India.
COC Predicted Team India playing XI for the first ODI:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Washington Sundar, Akshar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj
