Team India has named a nearly full-strength team for the ODI series. After being rested for the New Zealand tour, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul are back in the team.
However, in the few opportunities, they have had while the first-choice players were rested, players like Shreyas Iyer have performed exceptionally well. The management of the team is finding it difficult to select their starting lineup for the first One-Day International on December 4.
In light of this, let’s take a look at the probable team for India’s first ODI in Dhaka:
Openers: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have together ostensibly shaped one of the most productive opening organizations in the ODIs throughout the last 10 years. The pair works very well together, and the Men in Blue would also work well with the right-hand-left-hand combination.
After an embarrassing loss to England in the T20 World Cup semifinals, the Indian captain has been scrutinized. Additionally, Rohit hasn’t been at his best lately, and with Dhawan’s strike rate being a fascinating topic of conversation, it will be interesting to see who takes the initiative.
In the middle: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), and KL Rahul
Virat Kohli will be eager to play in what is likely his best battering format. Kohli, who is arguably the best batsman in modern ODIs, must be hoping that his incredible form in T20Is will also help him score big in one-day cricket.
With five half-centuries in his last nine ODI innings, Shreyas Iyer has been in incredible form. He may, however, be rested for the first ODI due to the short time between the end of the New Zealand series and the beginning of the Bangladesh series.
As a result, Pant and vice-captain KL Rahul may share middle-order roles. Both batters have been inconsistent recently, and with players like Sanju Samson and Iyer around, they will want to take advantage of opportunities.
All-rounders: Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Shardul Thakur
Even in white-ball cricket, Bangladesh’s tracks frequently aid spinners, as demonstrated by Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Shardul Thakur.
This might tempt Team India to use all three of their spinning all-rounders—Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, and Shahbaz Ahmed—in a single match.
Axar and Sundar have already demonstrated that they can also produce excellent performances with the bat. Shahbaz will also be hoping to get a chance to show how strong he is.
Against New Zealand, Shardul Thakur’s series was subpar. However, India may re-include him in the XI for the first ODI due to his propensity for taking wickets.
Bowlers: Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj
Two of the most impressive white-ball bowlers for India this year, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj may get the nod ahead of Kuldeep Sen, who hasn’t won a cap yet. Shami demonstrated that he is more than just a Test specialist by showing great control at the T20 World Cup.
Siraj, who has been India’s best ODI fast bowler this year, will want to keep up his excellent form. He also did well in the Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand, which would have made him feel even more confident.