5 Challenges for Team India ahead of the ODI Series vs England

Team India is all set for the English Summer, as they look to extend their dominance in the 50-over format. This time, for a change, India would be donning the blue jersey before switching to red ball cricket.

The last time Team India traveled to England, they were riding high on confidence due to a Champions Trophy victory in the same turf in the previous year. India performed well at the Champions Trophy 2017 as well, reaching the finals.

The likes of KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Umesh Yadav and Siddharth Kaul particularly had a breakthrough IPL year, and as a result, have made a cut in the national squad. These new entrants pose uphill tasks ahead of Captain Kohli before kicking off the limited overs matches. Addressing them, among others would be vital for the tour of Australia, and the all-important World Cup next year. Let's have a look at them:

Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik would be expected to bring experience and stability in the middle order

#1 The Middle Muddle

This has been the most concerning area for Team India in the previous 36 months. India have played 11 batsmen at the No. 4 spot, but none of the players have been able to make it a spot of their own. Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Yuvraj Singh all have been tried and tested at this position. In fact, Pandey, Rahane and Yuvraj have not been able to make a cut in the ODI squad, while Rahul makes a comeback after being dropped from the squads against New Zealand and South Africa.

Only 2 players, Yuvraj Singh (150 vs England) and Manish Pandey (104 vs Australia) have managed to score hundreds at the No. 4 position since the 2015 World Cup. This time, the selectors have entrusted the middle order to the likes of KL Rahul, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina and Shreyas Iyer.

It would be a challenging task to find a reliable No.4 batsman and a strong middle order, which shall propel the team in the middle overs.

India might entrust the opening roles to Rahul and Shikhar

#2 Opening Slot - Rohit Sharma or KL Rahul

Rohit Sharma had a dream run in 2017; scoring at least one hundred in every ODI tournament he was part of. He scored 1293 runs from 21 matches, with 6 hundreds, finishing as the second highest run-getter in the ODIs, only behind Virat Kohli.

The scintillating double hundred against Sri Lanka was an icing on the cake. However, Rohit could not continue his dream form in 2018, managing only 170 runs in 6 matches in South Africa, with a highest score of 115.

He also did not have a very good run in the IPL, with 286 runs from 14 matches. On the other hand, KL Rahul had a successful IPL as an opener, finishing as the third highest run scorer, with 659 runs from 14 matches. Though Shikhar Dhawan has cemented his place as one of the openers with premium knocks in South Africa and the IPL, this time we may see KL Rahul as his opening partner.

The finishing abilities of MS Dhoni will play a crucial role

#3 The form of MS Dhoni

The former Indian skipper had the best IPL as a batsman, with 455 runs from 16 matches at an average of 75.83. At a time when his hitting abilities were being doubted, Dhoni made a swashbuckling return, and is currently at his savage best.

MSD, as a senior player has plenty of experience of the English conditions. Apart from his lightning-fast glovework, his knocks with the willow would be of vital importance. Dhoni has expressed his desire to spend more time in the middle, and a lot depends on his batting position.

He would be expected to provide stability and a sense of calmness to the young and unsettled middle order. He would prove crucial in the highly competitive chases, and his finishing touches would decide the fate of India in the series.

Hardik Pandya will be key towards the end

#4 The Fifth Bowler

The fifth bowler would be a major concern for captain Kohli, as he looks to extend his unbeaten run in England. Hardik Pandya has been a regular feature in the side and provides a fifth bowling option in the form of a seam all-rounder.

However, he has proved expensive on many occasions. Pandya is also not a regular wicket-taking bowler, which aggravates the situation. Suresh Raina can chip in with a few overs if given a chance in the playing eleven.

Raina is an effective part-time bowler, and had been MS Dhoni's go-to-man in crunch situations. The seasoned campaigner made vital contributions with the ball, the last time India travelled England, taking 4 wickets in 4 matches at an economy of 4.68. Thus, it would be essential to plan and allocate these overs , or this 10-over loophole might take a game-changing course.

Bhuvi will be key with the ball

#5 The Bowling Combination

The pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah has been clinical for India since the Champions Trophy 2017. Both the bowlers have risen up the ranks in a very short period, and have the capability of breaking through any batting line up.

They can trouble the batsmen with the new ball as well as bowl economical death overs. The variations of Bhuvneshwar and the yorkers of Bumrah would certainly be extremely handy in pace-friendly England pitches.

The spin twins of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have also been a clinical factor in the Indian bowling attack. The two provide a left-right spin bowling combination. The two shared 33 wickets among them in the series against South Africa and laid the foundation of the first bilateral series victory in the country.

However, with the pace-friendly conditions in England and Hardik Pandya not being a full-time bowler, Captain Kohli might opt for an additional pacer. The presence of Umesh Yadav and Siddharth Kaul provides options for the same.

In this case, it would be difficult to choose between Chahal and Kuldeep. Thus, it would be a challenging task for Captain Kohli to decide the right bowling attack to counter the English batsmen.