After whitewashing the Kiwis in the Test series, the MS Dhoni-led ODI team will look to replicate what Virat Kohli’s Test team did. Both India and New Zealand play a five-match ODI series beginning on October 16 at Dharamsala.
The ODI series will be a tough nut to crack for the men in blue as the selectors have decided to rest some of India’s senior bowlers (R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Shami) to have them fresh for the long home season. The squad features two ODI rookies in Hardik Pandya and Jayant Yadav.
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New Zealand are a very strong ODI team and the hosts have to play out of their skin to win the series. Let us take a look at India’s playing XIs for the ODIs.
Squad: MS Dhoni (C and WK), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Dhawal Kulkarni, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Suresh Raina
Openers
Rohit Sharma has been consistent in the ODIs ever since he was asked to open the innings in 2013. Since then, the right-hander has amazed 3030 runs in just 61 innings at an excellent average of 56.11 and a strike-rate of 90. It is certain that the Mumbaikar will open the innings for India in the series against New Zealand.
The other opener’s slot is an area of concern for the team management as Rohit’s regular opening partner Shikhar Dhawan is ruled out of the first three ODIs due to a thumb injury he sustained during the second Test against the Kiwis at Eden Gardens. KL Rahul, who is in the form of the life is also not included in the squad due to a hamstring injury.
This leaves the team management with no option but to try either Ajinkya Rahane or Mandeep Singh as the other opener. Rahane, who plays in the middle-order for India in ODIs has been in fine form and has improved a lot as a batsman in this format in the last one year. Mandeep, on the other hand, is yet to make his ODI debut and it is likely that the team management will go in with Rahane as a second opener ahead of the rookie batsman Mandeep.
Openers: Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane
Middle-order
Virat Kohli will be the first man to be on the team sheet as India’s Test skipper is India’s best player (the best in the world, maybe) in this format in the last 5 years. The chances of R Ashwin going wicketless in a home Test is more than India dropping Kohli for an ODI. If India take a 3-0 lead in the first three matches, Kohli might be rested for the remaining two matches.
Manish Pandey, who scored an unbeaten century at Sydney in India’s last match with a proper squad will get the nod to bat at number four while skipper MS Dhoni will get a chance to bat at number 5.
With the absence of Ajinkya Rahane/KL Rahul in the middle order, the selectors have recalled experienced batsman Suresh Raina to bolster the middle-order. Unfortunately, the left-hander was ruled out of the first ODI due to viral fever and is expected to play in the second ODI at New Delhi. So, it is likely that Kedar Jadhav will be in the playing XI ahead of Suresh Raina for the Dharamsala ODI.
Hardik Pandya, who was with the Indian team during the T20I series against Australia, Sri Lanka, Asia Cup T20 and the World T20 earlier this year, got a maiden call-up to the ODI team and is certain to make his debut in the first ODI at Dharamsala.
Middle-order: Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav (Suresh Raina will replace him once he is fit) and Hardik Pandya
Spinners:
With the absence of India’s spin twins R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who were rested from the ODIs due to India’s upcoming assignments, the men in blue are set to lose two of their most lethal weapon.
This opens the door for Amit Mishra and Jayant Yadav, who were with the team during the Test series. Mishra is a seasoned campaigner and is likely to lead India’s inexperienced spin attack that has Axar Patel as the spin bowling all-rounder.
Axar, who has been travelling with the ODI for the past two years has done well whenever he got a chance and is likely to get a place in the playing XI as a spinner who can score some quick runs down the order.
Unless the team management wants to go in with 3 spinners, it is highly unlikely that the Yadav will get a chance in the XI ahead of Hardik Pandya.
Spinners: Axar Patel and Amit Mishra
Pacers:
The Indian fans would have loved to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah as the three pacers in the limited overs series against New Zealand as the trio has the capability to bowl well with the new ball and also at the death, something that the Indian team lacked in the past.
With Bhuvneshwar ruled out of the ODIs due to injury and Shami rested ahead of the long home season, the Indian fans won’t see the trio in action together. Instead, they will get a glimpse of one-third of the trio, Jasprit Bumrah alongside either Umesh Yadav or Dhawal Kulkarni.
Umesh has been with the team during the Tests and that might help his case in getting a place in the XI. Kulkarni, who was brilliant with the ball in the IPL and the subsequent ODI series in Zimbabwe also deserves a chance in the series. The team management will look to rotate the two bowlers as they already have Hardik as the third pacer.
Pacers: Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav (Umesh for the first match)
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