Indian team is all set to tour Zimbabwe for 3 match ODI series starting from August 18. In this series, men in blues have gone with young bunch of players who are ready to showcase their talent at international level.
There are no predefined roles of these youngsters so coach VVS Laxman and captain KL Rahul will have to ponder a lot about their winning combination on this tour. Not only these Youngsters will require a role clarity but KL Rahul the Indian captain of this tour still have to ponder about his role in the team. Will he play as wicket keeper batsman or will play as an opener only and if not then will he continue to play in middle order and will do the wicket keeping duties as well? There are lot of questions to ponder about the Indian playing11 ahead of the first match and in this article we will try to find the solution.
Opener: Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill
As ODI World Cup is not too far away and in all likelihood Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will open the inning for Team India in that ODI World Cup, so captain KL Rahul will try to slot himself in middle order only, and against West Indies, Shubman Gill had impressed as an opener so, there is no issue of opening pair for Team India. Shikhar and Gill will provide left right combination at the top and both are in form batters.
Number 3: Ruturaj Gaikwad/ Ishan Kishan
Indian team can only fit any one of Ruturaj Gaikwad or Ishan Kishan at number 3 position. Both are exciting players and best fitted for number 3 position. Gaikwad has made tons of runs in domestic circuit in this format while Kishan is travelling with this Indian setup from a while. So, its upto team management whom they pick but Ruturaj Gaikwad can be preferred over Kishan.
Middle Order Batter: KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Deepak Hooda
Indian middle order slot will be filled by KL Rahul, Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda. KL Rahul can open the inning as well but he will try to fit himself in the middle order, in order to prepare himself for ODI world cup 2023. Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda will accompany him in the middle overs. Sanju Samson will play as wicket keeper batter while Hooda will play as batting all rounder.
All Rounders: Axar Patel and Shardul Thakur/ Deepak Chahar
Spin bowling all rounder Axar Patel is all set feature in playing 11 in absence of Ravindra Jadeja whereas any one of Shardul Thakur or Deepak Chahar can be picked in the starting 11 of Indian team in first ODI. Axar Patel is in great touch with his batting and can bowl his quota of 10 overs economically and quickly whereas after the comeback of Deepak Chahar now Shardul Thakur’s place in the Indian setup is no more certainty. Any one of Thakur or Deepak Chahar can play and this decision totally depends on team management and captain whom they will prefer.
Spinner: Kuldeep Yadav
In absence of regular spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav will get enough opportunity on this tour. On this tour, he will lead the spin department of the visitors and is all set to feature in the starting 11 of the Indian team. He will be supported by Axar Patel and Deepak Hooda from another end. Kuldeep Yadav was in terrific form during IPL and will try continue the same form in this series as well.
Fast Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna
Md Siraj and Prasidh Krishna is all set to lead the pace battery of Indian team and they will be supported by any one of Deepak Chahar or Shardul Thakur. Md Siraj was in great touch during West Indies series and he is all set to open the Indian bowling attack and will also bowl in death overs. Prasidh Krishna was struggling with his line and length during West Indies series but Indian team will give him extended run as he can trouble Zimbabwe batter with extra bounce he generates from the surface.
India’s Probable 11 For First ODI: Shikhar Dhawan(vc), Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan/ Ruturaj Gaikwad(high), KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur/ Deepak Chahar(high),Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Md Siraj
