India's strongest playing XI for the Sri Lanka ODI series
The 2023 World Cup final, where India lost to Australia, doesn't seem too long ago. While a lot has happened since then, including the Men in Blue's triumphant run to the 2024 T20 World Cup title, India have played just three ODIs since that day in Ahmedabad.
Those three ODIs didn't feature the men who took part in the 2023 World Cup. This time around, when India take on Sri Lanka later this month, the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will feature. The BCCI named a fairly strong squad earlier today, although Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have been rested.
ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.
What will their best side look like? Here is India's strongest playing XI for the Sri Lanka ODI series.
Openers: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c)
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are India's first-choice opening pair, and rightfully so. The duo were excellent in the 2023 World Cup, although the latter wasn't at his physical best throughout the competition. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal haven't been picked, meaning that Rohit and Gill are the only two openers in the squad.
Middle order: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Axar Patel
India's top five will look exactly like it did at the World Cup. There's no reason to change anything, with Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer followed by KL Rahul. However, Rahul might not have the gloves on.
Rishabh Pant has been picked in the squad. Pant and Shivam Dube are in a shootout to be part of the XI, and with the latter not being a particularly exciting ODI prospect, the former could slot in at No. 6. A good player of pace, Pant could fill in for Hardik Pandya, despite this leaving India without a sixth bowling option.
Ravindra Jadeja has presumably been dropped, clearing the path for Axar Patel to be India's frontline all-rounder against Sri Lanka.
Lower order: Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
In the long run, India need a fast bowler who can bat. Harshit Rana could be the man to fill that void, and given his talent, the Men in Blue need to get him into the mix immediately. If the team composition requires an additional spinner, Washington Sundar could replace Rana, with Dube potentially getting the nod ahead of Pant.
Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj will be India's frontline quicks. The left-arm pacer will be keen on nailing down his place in the 50-over format as well. Khaleel Ahmed hasn't played an ODI since 2019 and should be behind Siraj and Arshdeep in the pecking order.