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Team India lost the ODI series 1-2 against hosts England last month. It was skipper Virat Kohli's first ever bilateral series defeat. Under Kohli, Team India has played 52 ODIs so far. The record stands as 39 wins, 12 loss with one game ending in a tie.
The flamboyant leader boasts of a winning percentage of 76.47. But with the World Cup just nine months away, India must address their woes in the ODI line up to have any chance of winning their third World Cup title. Though the top order and fast bowling department look good, the middle order and spin department looks is not so.
The Indian middle order has not been able to live up to the expectations in the past few years. With players like Chahal proving ineffective in the English conditions, it is time for the Indian management to bring back experienced players into the ODI circuit with the World Cup in mind.
Let us now look at four players who really deserve to make a comeback into the ODI squad after missing some of the recent series.
Rayudu made his ODI debut for Team India against Zimbabwe at Harare in July 2013. The Guntur-born batsman has so far represented the Men in Blue in 34 ODIs, scoring 1055 runs at an average of 50.23 with his highest score being 124*.
The right-hander has amassed two centuries and six half centuries with 11 catches to his name. In 134 List A matches, he has scored 4300 runs at an average of 40.95. After representing the Mumbai Indians in the IPL for eight consecutive seasons (2010-2017), he moved to the Chennai Super Kings this year.
He had a remarkable run with the bat for MS Dhoni's men, as he finished the season with 602 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 149.75 that included three half centuries and a century.
His stellar performance for the 2018 IPL champion earned him a spot in the Indian ODI squad for the England tour. Unfortunately, he was left out later as he failed the yo-yo test. Now, he is back with the India A squad after passing the yo-yo test and is currently playing in the Quadrangular series involving India B, South Africa A and Australia A.
Rayudu scored a match winning 62*(107) against a strong Australia A side, comprising of bowlers like Billy Stanlake, Jhye Richardson and Ashton Agar during the fifth match of the series and continued his excellent form two days later by top scoring for his team (48 off 75) against India B.
With the middle order woes (ODIs) in mind, India might draft in Rayudu who last played an ODI for India in June 2016 for the Asia Cup 2018 to be played at UAE next month. This might be a dress rehearsal for Rayudu, who is all set to be an indispensable member of the Indian batting line-up in the next summer's ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.
He will be very eager to make a mark after missing the ODI series against England last month.
2) Kedar Jadhav
Jadhav made his ODI deut for Team India against Sri Lanka at Ranchi in November 2014. Since then, the batting all rounder has gone on to represent the nation in 40 ODIs scoring 798 runs at an average of 39.90 with his highest score being 120.
The Maharashtra star has amassed two centuries and three half centuries for Team India in the ODIs so far and has 19 catches to his name. In 127 List A matches, Jadhav has scored 4243 runs at an average of 47.14. Jadhav was Chennai Super Kings' costliest buy at the 2018 IPL auctions, after being bought for INR 7.8 crore.
Jadhav played only the opening game of the season against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede stadium, in which he guided Chennai to a thrilling win- thanks to his cameo at the end. But the hamstring injury he suffered during that game, ruled him out for the entire season. Hence, he had to sit out for India's limited overs series during the England tour.
After coming back from the injury, he was included in the India B squad for the Quadrangular series. Though he managed just 23 runs in his first game after the injury, he was looking in good nick before his dismissal. A strong lower middle order batsman and a useful off spinner, Jadhav scored 561 runs in 18 innings for India in the ODIs last year at an average of 40.07.
He also scalped 10 wickets in 25 matches for India in 2017. He is expected to make the cut for the Asia Cup given his strong credential lower down the order. Jadhav, who last played an ODI for India in February 2018 against the Proteas, might be making his comeback into the ODI squad to strengthen the middle order before the 2019 World Cup.
The Asia Cup will undoubtedly be a great platform to regain his touch in the ODI circuit.
Ashwin made his ODI debut for Team India against Sri Lanka at Harare in June 2010. The Tamil Nadu star has represented India in 111 ODIs so far, picking up 150 wickets at an economy of 4.91 with his best figures being 4/25.
Ashwin has always proved that he is a capable batsman lower down the order as his stats reveal- 675 runs in 61 innings with a highest score 65. A vastly experienced player, Ashwin has so far played 165 List A matches in which he has scalped 223 wickets and amassed 1248 runs. Though he last played for India in June 2017 against West Indies, he is still a great option when it comes to the limited overs.
The Kings XI Punjab skipper scored 102 runs and took 10 wickets in this year's IPL for his franchise. After being omitted from the limited overs squad, he worked hard on his bowling and has added some new dimensions to it.
His new variations worked out well during the 2017-18 Vijay Hazare Trophy where he emerged as Tamil Nadu's highest wicket-taker with 9 scalps. He has again come to the party, scoring 100 runs while picking up 8 wickets in the ongoing Tests against England.
He was India's prime wicket taker at Edgbaston and highest run scorer at Lord's. Chahal's struggle in England was evident as he finished the limited overs series (3 ODIs and 3 T20s) with just three wickets.
With Ashwin back to his best with both bat and the ball (in England), India will be tempted to field him once again in the limited overs to bring him back into the groove for the ODI World Cup.
With the UAE pitches assisting spinners, Ashwin might well start his World Cup preparations at the Gulf nation if he gets a nod. His experience will undoubtedly a big advantage for Team India.
Jadeja, who made his ODI debut back in February 2009 against Sri Lanka at Colombo has so far played 136 ODIs for Team India. The Saurashtra player has scored 1914 runs that includes ten half-centuries. In addition to that, he has taken 155 ODI wickets, with his best figures being 5/36.
Jaddu last played an ODI for Team India against West Indies in June 2017. In 188 List A matches, he has scored 2949 runs at an average of 32.05 and has 216 wickets to his name. After a poor 2017 ICC Champions Trophy (4 wickets and 15 runs in five matches), he was overlooked for the ODI squad.
A highly talented player, Jadeja is a useful lower middle order batsman. An outstanding athlete too, has 51 catches to his name in the ODIs.
A good lower middle order batsman and an efficient left-arm orthodox bowler, Jadeja has all the credentials required for a perfect limited-overs player. All he needs is one more chance to prove himself in the limited overs prior to the World Cup. If given a chance, Asia Cup 2018 would be the best platform to stake a claim for an ODI spot.
We must not forget the fact that, he was the Golden ball winner (leading wicket taker) during India's victorious 2013 ICC Champions Trophy with 13 wickets in 5 matches at England.
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