India’s predicted 11 for 1st ODI vs England: Will Virat Kohli play?

Virat Kohli struggled for runs in the three-match T20I series against England. The star Indian batter played two games, scoring 1 and 11 runs respectively. Rohit Sharma and co won the series 2-1. 

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Now, the Men in Blue will head to the ODIs. The focus still lies on Kohli and what the former skipper has to offer with the bat. A BCCI source told PTI that the 33-year-old sistained a groin strain in the last T20I, which England won by seven wickets, and is set to miss the first ODI at Oval. 

“Virat has a groin strain during last game. It can’t be confirmed whether it happened during fielding or while batting. He will probably miss first ODI tomorrow at Oval as the groin needs rest,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

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By what India captain Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presser, the management is willing to back Kohli and he could come into the side for the next two games at Lord’s (July 14) and Manchester (July 17).

Here is India’s predicted 11 for the first ODI vs England:

1) Rohit Sharma (c): The skipper will open for the team. He looked in an attacking touch in the T20Is but could not convert his starts into big scores. 

2) Shikhar Dhawan: The left-handed opener will captain India on the West Indies tour. Dhawan will need to make a mark vs England to establish himself as the ODI veteran he is. 

3) Shreyas Iyer: With Virat Kohli gone, Shreyas Iyer is likely to fill in the No 3 slot for India. 

4) Surykumar Yadav: The hundred in the last T20I should translate into a brilliant show in the ODIs. SKY can be a long-term No 4 investment for India. 

5) Rishabh Pant (wk): The explosive left-hander opened for India in the T20Is. In the second match, he failed to convert his start and in the third he scored 1. Pant was the team’s best batter in the only Test played vs England. The team will need him to fire to seal the ODIs. 

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6) Hardik Pandya: The all-rounder has come back and in what style. He became the first Indian to take four wickets and score a half-century in a T20I. The 28-year-old has been enjoying his role with both bat and ball. 

7) Ravindra Jadeja: His unbeaten 46 in the second T20I helped India post a safe 170-run total. However, his wicket-taking ability with the white ball has been questioned.  

8) Yuzvendra Chahal: Chahal and Jadeja in the middle overs can give India the right balance of economy and wicket-taking. 

9) Jasprit Bumrah: The Mumbai Indians pacer was India’s mainstay in the only T20I he played. He picked two wickets for only 10 runs. 

10) Arshdeep Singh: The Punjab-based pacer showed great skill on his T20I debut. India would want to use a left-arm pacer to trouble the English batters. 

11) Mohammed Shami: The fast bowler offers both pace and swing, which can be a match-winning combination in English conditions.