Champions Trophy 2017: India vs New Zealand Warm-Up, 5 talking points

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 10:  Mohammed Shami of India celebrates the wicket of Kevin O'Brien of Ireland during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Ireland and India at Seddon Park on March 10, 2015 in Hamilton, New Zealand.  (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Mohammed Shami picked up three top-order wickets to put New Zealand in a rut 

#3 India ponder combinations with the ball

MOHALI, INDIA - MARCH 27:  Hardik Pandya of India celebrates after taking the wicket of Aaron Finch of Australia  during the ICC WT20 India Group 2 match between India and Australia at I.S. Bindra Stadium on March 27, 2016 in Mohali, India.  (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
It will be interesting to see how India use Hardik Pandya in the Champions Trophy

While India opted for Hardik Pandya with the new ball today, that strategy is definitely not set in stone. With Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar all available to assist Mohammed Shami, Pandya may not be the first choice to open the attack but exploring their options before the tournament wasn't a bad idea.

If India do opt to play Pandya in their line-up, one of Bumrah or Umesh Yadav may miss out given that Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shami are automatic choices in the eleven. Ashwin and Jadeja are both likely to play even though Yuvraj and Jadhav offer back-up spin options.

The risk with this ploy is Pandya's inconsistency with the ball and missing the X-factor that Bumrah and Umesh both provide. It remains to be seen how India's eleven shapes up in the tournament.

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Edited by Staff Editor