Yashasvi Jaiswal IN, Jasprit Bumrah OUT; Hardik Pandya Returns: India's Likely Squad For England ODI Series

Yashasvi Jaiswal IN, Jasprit Bumrah OUT; Hardik Pandya Returns: India's Likely For England ODI Series (Source: AP)

The Indian cricket team will begin their ICC Champions Trophy preparations with an ODI series against England in India. The tour will start with the T20I leg before the focus shifts to the ODIs. India last played an ODI series against Sri Lanka where they lost the series 2-0. India should opt for a full-strength squad for the series. While senior Indian players might need some rest after the hectic Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the Champions Trophy lined up in February, they won't get that window of rest.

Yashasvi Jaiswal could be slotted in the team as a backup opener. He was not part of the squad for the Sri Lanka ODIs. Shubman Gill should be the first-choice opener along with Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli will be the no. three batters. Shreyas Iyer has shown great form in the white-ball tournaments recently. It should be a toss-up between him and KL Rahul for the middle order but Rahul might just edge out given that he can also keep. Rishabh Pant will be the specialist wicketkeeper. Hardik Pandya, who has been out of action for a while should return to the side. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar should be the spin-bowling all-rounders while Kuldeep Yadav could be the specialist spinner. Jasprit Bumrah could be rested for the series given that India can't afford to burn out Bumrah before the ICC event.

Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami (subjected to fitness) could be the fast bowlers.

The first ODI of the series will be played on February 6 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.

India's Likely Squad For England ODIs

Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj

Click here to read article