As the upcoming ODI series against England is India's last series in the format ahead of the Champions Trophy, all eyes will be on the players to see who makes it into the squad for this summer's major international tournament.
Despite announcing his retirement from limited-overs captaincy, MS Dhoni's experience and skill with both gloves and bat means that he is certain to make the squad for the tournament in England, others are guaranteed that. There are several players for whom the upcoming limited-overs leg against England will be a make or break series.
Here are five players who will be under the spotlight in the England series and who will have to perform to come out on top in a series that might well decide their future in the format.
Shikhar Dhawan
In 2016, Shikhar Dhawan may have fired in the only ODI series which he played in and finished as India's third-leading run-getter in T20Is but there is no guarantee that he will have a place in the starting XI in India's limited-overs squad.
While Rohit Sharma's absence from the ODI and T20I squad for the England series means that he is likely to play all six matches, he will have to make it count if he is to be assured of a spot in the limited-overs set up. With Rohit already guaranteed of a spot, the other place is a fight between Dhawan, Rahane and KL Rahul who scored a century in all formats in 2016 to see who India's opening pair will be for the Champions Trophy in June.
In the T20I set-up, Shikhar Dhawan's task is made even more difficult with the presence of Rishabh Pant as well, who has been dominating the headlines in domestic cricket and also the ongoing DY Patil T20 Cup. An impressive performance in the England series will however mean that the 31-year-old is all but guaranteed of an opening berth alongside Rohit for the Champions Trophy.
Ajinkya Rahane
There can be little doubt that Ajinkya Rahane has been one of India's best Test batsmen over the past few years. The right-hander has scored in every country that India has played in and all but established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet when the XI is being picked.
But the shorter formats, however, paint a completely different picture. Despite his impressive performances in the IPL as an opener for Rajasthan Royals and recently Rising Pune Supergiants, he hasn't quite been able to establish himself in either the ODI or T20I squad of late. While an established opening pair has meant he hasn't always played in his preferred position, he has squandered the opportunities that he has got as well.
An average of 32 (ODIs) and 20 (T20Is) does not make for great reading if you are Rahane and that has been reflected in the number of opportunities that he has got. With Dhawan, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and now even Rishabh Pant providing competition for an opening spot, Rahane needs to fire in the middle-order if he is to make the squad for the Champions Trophy as he is unlikely to get in as a back-up opener.
Manish Pandey
When Manish Pandey scored a century against Australia in Sydney, which helped India chase down a 300+ total and all but transformed their limited-overs fortunes, many thought that he was the finisher that India have been clamoring for.
With MS Dhoni batting at No.4 and the other middle-order spots still up for grabs, Pandey's match-winning century at Sydney didn't become the platform from which he went on to bigger and better things. Instead it was the sole highlight of a year in which he scored just 190 runs in 11 ODIs and just 48 runs in four T20I matches.
After a great start to 2016, Pandey failed to deliver and with Yuvraj Singh back in the squad, providing plenty of competition in the middle-order, the Karnataka batsman needs to rediscover his touch if he is keep his place in the side. Or else, not only will he drop out, his lack of experience and Raina's impressive record in England might mean he could even miss out on a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy squad.
Suresh Raina
Having not played an ODI in 2016 and being dropped for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England in favour of Yuvraj Singh, it is fair to say that Suresh Raina's ODI career has stalled.
Although he was given a long rope in the T20I side in 2016, he couldn't quite live up to his past performances in the format. And that is why, despite being one of India's most experienced limited-overs players, he hasn't found a name in the last ODI squad ahead of the Champions Trophy in June.
However, a strong performance in the T20I series coupled with his impressive ODI track record in England might just force the selectors to pick him for the tournament in June as his wealth of experience will certainly be invaluable in a high-pressure situation.
Yuvraj Singh
Having made his T20I comeback in 2016 before injury forced him to sit out during the World T20, Yuvraj Singh isn't someone who is new to making comebacks. But having past played an ODI in 2013, there are still some doubts about whether he can cut in a format in which he made his name.
The 35-year-old dispelled some of that with his fifty against England in the first warm-up match but what was also evident in that match was his uneasiness at facing the short ball. If Yuvraj is to be on the squad to the Champions Trophy, not only will he have to fire in the ODI and T20I series to show that he has still got it, but do so without dredging up a familiar flaw.
As the most experienced member of the ODI side, Yuvraj certainly has the talent to pull through and silence his critics. Virat Kohli will be hoping that he does just that as he looks at the combination that will help India claim their second successive Champions Trophy.
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