India vs England ODI series 2017: Combined XI

Middle order

Virat Kohli

A no-brainer at No.3, Kohli’s challenge as a batsman will increase manifold, with the added burden of captaincy, now with Dhoni stepping down from both the limited-overs formats. However, given how well he has performed in the whites since being given the Test captaincy, Kohli is expected to better himself in the new Indian jersey as well.

The right-hand bat had a sensational 2016, breaking into the top-5 in all three formats. Four centuries in the IPL and three double hundreds in Tests are part of a consistent run that doesn’t seem to end.

Joe Root

Root reunited with the England squad after flying back post the birth of his newborn son, having taken a paternity leave to be beside his fiance Carrie. He couldn’t be part of the two warm-up games, but is expected to barge his way into the playing XI, mostly at his preferred No.3 spot.

Over the years, he has grown from strength to strength, as was evident during his performance in all formats last year, where he averaged more than 60, with 2 hundreds and 6 fifties to his credit.

MS Dhoni

Things have changed, but hopefully, we’ll get to see the Dhoni of old, now with the burden of captaincy off his shoulders after nine years at the helm of affairs. Yuvraj Singh has hinted that the Dhoni of old might come back for the last leg of his career, playing in the same blithe fashion that he used to.

It’ll be interesting to see how Dhoni takes flight under Kohli, for we’ll miss his chirpy self behind the sticks while keeping to spinners. As a batsman, he is expected to come up the order so that he has more time to get his eye in and mould his knock based on the scenario.