India's Predicted XI For 1st ODI vs England: No Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul?
The dress rehearsal for the Champions Trophy starts for the Indian cricket team with the three-ODI series against England. There is a lot of intrigue surrounding the playing XI, especially with big concerns over availability of Jasprit Bumrah (picked for only the third ODI earlier) for the Champions Trophy. Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav are returning from injury while there is still no clarity over who will be the No. 1 wicketkeeper.
Form and fitness of seasoned stars is under the scanner as India enter the final phase of their Champions Trophy preparations with the three-match ODI series against England starting on Thursday, aiming to find the right balance for some specific slots in the line-up. The likes of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been under tremendous scrutiny after their dismal run in red-ball cricket. The two stars, after making hyped but disappointing appearances in Ranji Trophy last month, will be eyeing strong performances in a format that they have dominated for several years.
They were the top two run-getters of the 2023 World Cup with Kohli scoring 765 and Rohit smashing 597. Since that World Cup, which India let slip in the final after going unbeaten throughout, the two have only featured in a three-match ODI series loss to Sri Lanka where Rohit scored two fifties while Kohli didn't have a great run.
The slump intensified in Tests and in the last three months, the two heroes of India's most recent T20 World Cup triumph have faced numerous calls to decide on their future.
The ODI series against England is India's only tune-up tournament for the Champions Trophy, to be held in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19. The eight-team competition could be a make-or-break event for the two