India vs Zimbabwe 2016: India's predicted playing XI

Middle-order batsmen:

The last time India played an ODI, Manish Pandey scored a brilliant 100

As far as the middle order is concerned, the team management will have a headache in picking the right combination. After his heroics in the last ODI India played going into this tour, Manish Pandey will get a direct entry into the team.

Karun Nair, who was brilliant in the domestic circuit for the last 2 seasons, got a call-up to the Indian test team during the Sri Lankan tour last year. Hi might not have got a chance to play but has been impressive in the domestic circuit and continued his good work in the IPL, for which he was rewarded with a call-up to the ODI team. On recent form, he is better than his competitors and that might help him seal his place in the playing XI.

With an all-rounder at number 7 and skipper MS Dhoni at number 5, there is just one slot available in the middle-order for which there will be a toss-up between Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav. The last time when India toured Zimbabwe, Ambati Rayudu was declared the Man of the series and Kedar Jadhav saved India from blushes in the third ODI with a brilliant 100.

Rayudu was decent with the bat for Mumbai Indians in IPL while Jadhav was ignored in the Royal Challengers Bangalore line-up for KL Rahul. If the team management decides to go with current form, Jadhav might be the one to miss out from the XI. If the management wants to go with experience, then both Rayudu and Jadhav will make it to the squad at the expense of Karun Nair.