Before the Champions Trophy, the Indian cricket team is preparing for its last series under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. The upcoming series against England is an opportunity for both teams to test their preparations and for players to regain their form. The first match of the three-match ODI series will be played in Nagpur on February 6. To understand how the Indian team’s playing XI might look in the first ODI match, let’s analyze the possible lineup.
Opening Pair and Middle Order
Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are expected to handle the opening responsibilities for Team India against England. Virat Kohli will likely occupy the number three position. For the number four spot, there are two contenders: KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. However, it is believed that Shreyas Iyer will get a chance to bat at number four in the first match. The team has two wicketkeepers, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, but it may be challenging for KL Rahul to secure a place in the playing XI.
All-Rounders and Bowling Attack
The Indian team consists of all-rounders like Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, who can contribute to both batting and bowling. This adds depth to the team’s batting lineup and provides hope for runs in the lower order. In terms of bowling, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh are likely to be part of the attack. With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable for the first two matches, Shami and Arshdeep will probably take responsibility for the fast attack.
The possible playing XI for the first ODI is: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Shami. The Indian team consists of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Jaspreet Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja.