After a scintillating T20I series that went to the wire and was grasped by India 2-1; the focus now moves onto the 50-over format with three-match ODI series to begin between England and India with the first match to be played on July 12 at Nottingham.
England is on a roll when it comes to 50-over cricket, as they decimated the Australian side 5-0 in the recent series. England even scored a world record 481 against Australia in the third ODI of the series and India needs to be wary of their batting prowess.
However, England was up against a relatively weak bowling lineup with no top quality spinner to boot. India, on the other hand, boasts of two of the best spinners in the white ball cricket right now.
With the first ODI just a few days away, Team Circle of Cricket presents the COC predicted India playing XI for the match.
As far as the batting lineup goes, India is currently boasting of the top six batsmen who are in top form. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are in the form of their lives and though Dhawan has been short of runs, England is a place where he has never been short of runs in ODI cricket.
Rohit Sharma has already shown his intent in the final T20I by scoring a century that he wants to continue this good run in the ODIs as well. The no.3 position might see KL Rahul batting for India given that he is such a rich vein of form and perfect solution if India loses an early wicket. His positive intent keeps the run rate going and he can tackle the spinners as well.
At no.4 Virat Kohli might hold his position to keep India going through the middle overs and he might be followed by Suresh Raina, who will take up the responsibility of keeping the runs coming in the crucial middle overs along with Kohli. Raina can play the big shots needed in a period of lull. MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya are the likely finishers for Team India.
England will most likely face the tough task of decoding Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the ODIs, as they showed that they were successful on South African pitches and have been good on the English pitches as well when it comes to taking wickets.
In absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the duty of providing pace and guile is most likely to fall on the shoulders of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav. Umesh Yadav has done so well in recent past, that he has pushed his way into the limited overs team as well. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was rested from the final T20I due to a side strain, is likely to be fit for the first ODI.
India is going to play three ODIs and the momentum of the series will be set with the first ODI and it will be important for the Indian team to win this match.
COC Predicted India Playing XI:
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma , KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (C), Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal
