5 experiments India should try in ODI series against Sri Lanka

With Virat Kohli rested for the ODI series, India will go up against Sri Lanka without their leading run-getter in the calendar year. Rohit Sharma will captain India for the first time, with a middle-order that loses a large chunk of experience in the absence of Kohli. There will be a few important changes to the line-up as India look to settle on what works for them going into the tour against Sri Lanka.

With Sri Lanka currently on a 12-game losing streak in ODIs, India have the ideal opportunity to experiment while ensuring that they don't compromise on winning the game. There are a few different things that India can try with their line-up, their composition and how they approach the three-match series.

Here are 5 experiments India should try in ODI series against Sri Lanka:

Have MS Dhoni come in at No.4

Dhoni averages almost 60 at No.4 in ODIs

MS Dhoni continues to have his fair share of critics despite posting very good numbers in 2017. He has over 700 runs this year in ODIs at an average of 65. Yet many believe that No.4 is where he should be batting. A career ODI average of nearly 60 at No.4 certainly strengthens that belief.

In a career that saw him essay the role of the finisher for a vast majority of the time, many believe that he should be able to close out his career in a position that suits him, having put the team above himself throughout his career.

In the absence of Virat Kohli, promoting Dhoni to No.4 will also stabilise the middle-order and give it some much-needed experience.

And it will also give the opportunity to...

Groom another finisher

Pandey can evolve into the finisher that India will need after Dhoni retires

Having been a finisher for so long, MS Dhoni is now in the twilight of his career. In order to ensure that there isn't a huge void once he calls time on his career, India need to groom another finisher who can take over from Dhoni.

Hardik Pandya has shown that he can do that and also play as a floater but India still haven't quite sorted out the No.5 and No.6 spot yet. Moving Dhoni to No.4 will give them the opportunity to try out different options at those options in a bid to see who is ready to take over from Dhoni.

The likes of Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik are all contenders for that spot, which will be crucial.

Rotate the fast bowlers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddarth Kaul played together for SRH

India have opted for just three fast bowlers in the ODI squad. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, who have been dominating with both the new and old ball, make the cut along with Siddarth Kaul, who earned his maiden ODI call-up.

While Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar have shared the bulk of the fast bowling responsibilities, it makes sense to keep them well rested ahead of the tour against South Africa. Bhuvi, who isn't in the T20I squad, could be given more game time in the ODI series and Bumrah kept fresh for the T20I series and Proteas tour that lies ahead.

It will also give an opportunity to try out Siddarth Kaul and see if he can translate his form from the IPL and for India A to the international stage.

Try Shreyas Iyer at No.3

Shreyas Iyer has so far had a tentative start to his international career. In the absence of Virat Kohli, he looks set to come in at No.3. The Mumbai batsman has scored a mountain of runs in both the domestic circuit and for India A and will be looking to replicate that form when he makes his ODI debut against Sri Lanka.

The absence of Kohli, while a big blow, in terms of runs, will give Shreyas Iyer the opportunity to grow as a batsman in international cricket and come of age without having the shadow of Kohli looming large in the backdrop. It will also give him extra responsibility in the batting line-up and test him at the start of his ODI career.

Three-pronged spin attack

Ideal opportunity to go with a spin trio

Despite the omission of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, India still have three spinners in Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel. While they have so far tried a combination of two from the three spinners, this might be India's chance to see how all three spinners fare together.

Consider Sri Lanka's difficulty in picking them in the ODI series in Sri Lanka earlier this year, going with a three-pronged spin attack might not be the worst idea. The presence of Hardik Pandya also means that even if India go in with just one front-line pacer, they will have another pace option should there be a need for back-up.

The batting capabilities of Axar and Kuldeep also means that India could afford to go in with five front-line bowlers, even if they want to keep two pacers in the starting XI.