Great opener Shikhar Dhawan will focus on the underperforming Indian team when it comes to a positive end to their Test and T20 tour against England in a three-match ODI series against world champions England starting on Tuesday in Pune. Bad luck The series is particularly important for the 35-year-old Dhawan, who failed to make an impact in the first T20 International (T20I) in Ahmedabad before warming the benches in the remaining four matches as India won the series 3–2 was.
Having a lot of options in the management (Shubman Gill) and outside (Prithvi Shaw and Devadatta Padikkal) for the opening slot, it would be a litmus test for “Gabbar” to prove himself in a lung opener.
He is expected to open the innings with veteran team captain Rohit Sharma, who was in superb form in the T20 series and wanted to play the same kind of innings.
The ODI format gives Dhawan the time needed to make his innings. With a load of experience under his belt, the Delhi batsman may return to form on Tuesday.
For the Indian team, the series will be an extension of their preparations for the T20 World Cup later this year.
The 50-over-format, in general, has no major tournament around the corner with a lower priority in 2021.
Captain Virat Kohli was back in the middle of scoring runs in the T20 series against England and wanted to pick up pace in the ODIs.
It has been some time since Kohli scored a century in his last and 43rd ODI matches in the upcoming format against the West Indies (114 not out) at the Port of Spain in August 2019.
He would itch to count his good form and end the drought of the century.
It is also expected that KL Rahul, who is unlikely to feature at the top of the order, and Rishabh Pant, are turning things around after a great performance as they are playing in the Under-11s. .
He will be seen in the middle order alongside Reddybal Hardik Pandya.
Mumbaikar could be a toss between Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav for a spot in the playing XI. Yadav proved himself to be quite powerful in the T20 series and scored a brilliant half-century in his first international innings.
The bowling attack is expected to be done by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took four wickets in the T20 series, and the new ball will be shared by Shardul Thakur. Thakur took eight wickets in the T20 series.
In the eyes of Kohli, rookie paceman Prasidh Krishna, who has already taken a catch, is also in the team.
Krishna enjoyed a good Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign for Karnataka, taking 14 wickets in seven matches at an average of 24.5.
Krunal Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to be favored by spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar.
Also, Pandya will be the fifth bowler in a fit again, but it remains to be seen how many overs he can bowl.
On the other hand, England would be keen to end the tour on a high tour after defeats in the Tests (1-3) and T20 series (2-3).
And for this to happen, captain Eoin Morgan’s role with the bat will be crucial.
The likes of Jos Buttler and juggernaut Jason Roy will have to unite and all-rounder Ben Stokes will have to step in with both bat and ball.
England fast bowler Mark Wood upset the Indian batsmen with his pace and in the absence of an injured Jofra Archer, he will have to shoulder a big responsibility alongside Chris Jordan and young Sam Curran.
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The spin duo of Moin Ali and Adil Rashid have been unable to trouble the Indian batsmen and it remains to be seen if they have any new moves to change the dynamics. Additionally, Ali can play the role of a pinch-hitter, if necessary.
All the games at MCA Stadium, Gahunje will be played in front of the empty stands as India struggles afresh in COVID-19 transitions.
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