India’s Probable ODI Squad vs England: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli In; Bumrah, Jadeja Out
India will host England in an eight-match white-ball series. It has five T20Is and three ODIs. This series is crucial for both teams. They must finalize their squads for the Champions Trophy. After a poor Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India wants to bounce back. The focus now shifts to building a strong ODI squad. Here’s a look at India’s probable team for the home series against England.
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli to Anchor the Top Order
Rohit Sharma, despite a poor run in the Tests in Australia, is expected to return as captain for the ODI squad. In his recent ODI vs. Sri Lanka, he scored 157 runs. His average was 52.33 and his strike rate was 141.44.
Rohit’s aggressive play stabilizes Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. They can focus on anchoring the innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal will likely be the reserve opener, along with the trio. While Jaiswal is yet to debut in ODIs, his recent form makes him a strong contender for this role.
Middle Order: Pant, Iyer, and Rahul Likely to Feature
Shreyas Iyer is poised to take the number four position in the middle order. Joining him are KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Both are expected to be wicketkeeping options.
If Rahul keeps wickets, Iyer may solidify his spot at number four. However, the Indian management might prefer Pant’s aggressive batting. It could rattle England’s bowlers. This flexibility lets India experiment with its middle order in the series.
All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya Returns, Jadeja Likely Rested
Hardik Pandya will likely return as India’s top all-rounder. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar will be the spin-bowling all-rounders. Nitish Kumar Reddy, a star in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, might get his first ODI call-up as a backup to Pandya.
India will likely rest Ravindra Jadeja to manage his workload. This will let them test Axar and Sundar before the Champions Trophy.
Bumrah Rested; Siraj and Arshdeep to Lead the Bowling Attack
Jasprit Bumrah has had a heavy workload in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He is likely to be rested for the England series to ensure his fitness for the Champions Trophy. In his absence, Mohammed Siraj will lead India’s pace attack. He will be supported by in-form Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
In the spin department, Varun Chakravarthy could get an ODI call-up if Kuldeep Yadav is hurt. Chakravarthy’s consistency in T20Is makes him a viable backup option for the squad.
India’s Probable ODI Squad for England Series
- Top Order: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli
- Middle Order: Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK)
- All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy
India’s Preparations for the Champions Trophy
The England series is India’s last chance to test its ODI combos before the Champions Trophy. With Bumrah and Jadeja likely rested, the series is a chance for new players to show their skills. They can stake a claim for a spot in the marquee event.
As India prepares for this crucial series, it must balance experience and youth. The goal is to build a team that can reclaim the Champions Trophy title.
