India vs Sri Lanka 2017: India's probable playing 11 for first ODI

Middle-order

Iyer looks set to take over at No.3 in the absence of Virat Kohli

Shreyas Iyer

Considering the amount of cricket that he has played over the last two years, the decision to rest Virat Kohli for the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka certainly makes a lot of sense. That gives an opportunity to Shreyas Iyer, who made his T20I debut against New Zealand to make his ODI debut against Sri Lanka. The 23-year-old has flown under the radar so far in international cricket and will be keen to make his mark.

Manish Pandey

Despite not playing the ODI series against New Zealand, Manish Pandey looks set to take his spot at No.4 in the first ODI. Since his last international match, the 28-year-old has scored a fifty, century and double century in the three Ranji matches that he has played. Rich vein of form coupled with the vacancy in the middle-order will mean the right-hander will get another chance to cement his spot on the side.

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has been unlucky to not have played more than he has done in 2017. After scoring a crucial fifty in West Indies, he was dropped for the following series. However, an average of 105 in the New Zealand ODI series coupled with the absence of Kohli is likely to ensure that he is in the starting line-up.

MS Dhoni

In the absence of Virat Kohli and a relatively inexperienced batting line-up (barring openers), much of the responsibility will fall on MS Dhoni's shoulders. He has been in great form in 2017, a year in which he has scored over 700 runs for the first time since 2013 and averages in excess of 65. Closing in on 10,000 ODI runs, he will want to continue his impressive run against Sri Lanka.