After a crushing defeat in the T20 series against England, the Indian team has now shifted its focus to the ODI series. Team India is stepping into the field aiming to bounce back with a victory, putting the T20 series loss behind them. In this context, the return of three stalwarts—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah—has significantly bolstered the squad. Let’s take a look at the likely playing XI for the first ODI.
Captain Shubman Gill and senior opener Rohit Sharma will open the innings. Both are in good form, having scored 238 and 143 runs respectively in the ODI series against Afghanistan. The team management is confident that this duo will provide a strong start for India in English conditions. ‘King’ Virat Kohli, who missed the Afghanistan series due to injury, has fully recovered and is set to bat at number three. Shreyas Iyer, who captained the T20 side, will bat at number four in the ODIs. KL Rahul will bat at number five and also handle wicket-keeping duties; he impressed by scoring 139 runs in the Afghanistan series.
The Indian bowling attack has been strengthened by the return of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnoor Brar will share the pace-bowling duties alongside him. Nitish Kumar Reddy will be in the squad as an all-rounder; since he bowls pace, India is likely to field three specialist pacers. Ishan Kishan is also available for selection. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav will handle the spin responsibilities. Both players, having failed to perform up to expectations in the T20 series, are keen to make an impact in the ODIs. Following the setbacks in the T20 series, this ODI series has become a crucial test for the Indian team. Team India aims to kick off the series against England with a win, leveraging the experience of senior players alongside a strong batting lineup and a potent bowling attack.
India’s Predicted Playing XI for the First ODI:
Shubman Gill (Captain)
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (Wicket-keeper)
Nitish Kumar Reddy/Ishan Kishan
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Arshdeep Singh
Jasprit Bumrah
Gurnoor Brar
