After winning the T20I series against Sri Lanka, the Indian team will come into the three-match ODI series with much gusto. The first of the three ODIs will be played in Guwahati on January 10th, Tuesday.
India had lost the last ODI series they played in New Zealand and would love to get back to the winning ways in the 50-over format given that it is an ODI World Cup year. Also, the big guns, who were rested for the T20I series will be back for India, boosting their chances of winning nicely.
Keeping this in mind, here is the COC Predicted Team India playing XI for the first ODI.
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As mentioned earlier, the big guns will be back for the ODI series and this means Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer are more than likely to find a place in the playing XI. But the question is what combination will the team management go with.
Rohit Sharma is expected to open the innings, but who will be his partner? Ishan Kishan or Shubman Gill. Gill has been in good form in ODIs, while Kishan has shown what his aggression brings to the table in a limited-overs game.
Also, the fact that Kishan is a left-hander breaks the monotony of right-handers in the first six of the playing XI.
Virat Kohli is expected to be back at no.3 with Shreyas Iyer coming in at 4 thanks to his excellent record in 50-over cricket. With Kishan opening the innings, India might not want to have him keep wickets for 50 overs as well.
This means they would have to choose between KL Rahul keeping and batting at five, or Kishan opening and keeping but having Suryakumar Yadav bat at 5.
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Hardik Pandya and Akshar Patel are expected to be the frontline all-rounders in the side and Pandya’s fitness will be tested in the longer white-ball format, as he is now the vice-captain of the side as well.
Him bowling 5-6 overs will also allow India the luxury of playing three spinners in the side as well with Akshar being one of them. India can then opt for Washington Sundar who provides depth in the batting as well or go with Yuzvendra Chahal for the leg-spinner factor.
It can be expected that India chooses Akshar, Sundar, and the left-arm leg-spin of Kuldeep Yadav.
As for the fast bowlers, India might opt for the experience of Mohammad Shami and the form and resilience of Mohammed Siraj, though they have the option of Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik as well.
COC Predicted Team India playing XI for 1st ODI:
Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya (VC), Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj
