India's predicted playing XI for the first ODI against England

India sealed the T20 series with an emphatic win in the third and final T20 at Bristol. After a hard-fought T20 series, the Indian team gears up for the highly anticipated ODI series. Keeping in perspective next year's World Cup, this 3 match ODI series becomes extremely important.

Moreover, the England team is in top form in ODIs. The English side thrashed Australia 5-0 in the recently concluded ODI series. They are high on confidence and will provide a stiff challenge to the visiting side. Moreover, the return of Ben Stokes in the side will bolster England's chances.

On the other hand, India hasn't been in bad form in ODIs either. Team India hasn't lost a bilateral ODI series since January 2016 and will look to keep this fantastic record intact. The Indian team showed their prowess in the ODI format by defeating a formidable South African team 5-1 playing in their own backyard.

Coming off a series win, the Indian team management might want to continue with the players who performed so well in the T20 series. During the course of the series, we might see some experiments but for the first match, India might stick to their best XI.

Also, the match will be played at Nottingham, a venue where England has scored over 400 runs in two of the last three matches. Spinners will be crucial on the high scoring ground. So here is India's predicted playing XI for the first ODI.

---

Openers

Shikhar Dhawan

Can Dhawan come back to form

?

Shikhar Dhawan hasn't had the best of the T20 series as he failed to put up a good performance. The left-hand batsman struggled to get going and threw away his wicket very early in the innings. But Dhawan has been a terrific ODI player for India. He has been successful in giving quick starts and has played some stunning innings in the recent past. Indian team management will back the explosive opener to come good in the ODI series.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma played a match-winning knock in the final T20

Rohit Sharma delivered when the team needed it the most in the T20 series. After stitching a good partnership with KL Rahul in the first T20, Rohit faltered in the 2nd T20. But he came back with an unbeaten match-winning hundred in the 3rd T20 and Rohit will look to continue his good form in the ODIs too. When in full flow, he can be a nemesis for the opposition side. Rohit will be key in getting India to a steady start.

Middle Order

KL Rahul

Rahul celebrating his century in the first T20

KL Rahul announced himself in England with a stunning hundred in the first T20. Rahul played some unbelievable shots and paced his inning beautifully giving a good account of himself. With Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in the side, Rahul might have to continue playing in the middle order. However, with tough competition for a place in the middle order, he will have to keep churning out good performances.

Virat Kohli

Will Kohli continue batting at number 4?

Virat Kohli had a mediocre T20 series according to his lofty standards. The Indian skipper did manage to accumulate runs but he would love to contribute more towards the team success. A class player like Kohli doesn't take much time to get back to form as he showed in the last T20. ODI format has been Kohli's forte and the England team will be aware of the huge danger that the stylish right-hand batsman poses. Kohli will also want to get accustomed to his new batting position.

Suresh Raina

Raina's part timing bowling might earn him a place in the playing XI

Suresh Raina replaced Ambati Rayudu after the latter failed to pass the fitness test. Suresh Raina might get into the playing XI straightaway. Even though the team management has got other options in the form of Dinesh Karthik and Shreyas Iyer, Raina might get the nod because of his ability to bowl off-spin. India will play with only 5 bowlers and Kohli would want to have a cushion of a sixth bowling option which might pave the way for Raina's selection in the playing XI.

Wicket-keeper and All-rounder

MS Dhoni

Will Dhoni get more opportunities to bat in the ODI series?

MS Dhoni showed his experience by playing a crucial innings in adverse conditions in the 2nd T20. While the other batsmen struggled to play themselves in, Dhoni steadied the Indian ship by playing according to the situation. The Indian team will want Dhoni to play more such innings in the ODI series. Dhoni would like to get back. Also, Dhoni's guidance will be important to the young spinners from behind the stumps.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has played some crucial innings in the lower order for India

Hardik Pandya had a decent T20 series against England. Pandya shined in the limited opportunities he got with the bat. He is expected to play a bigger role in the ODI series. Pandya also took some important wickets for the side, his role as a bowler will be even more crucial keeping in mind the fact that the Indian team doesn't have many options for the sixth bowler.

Spinners

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep was too hot to handle for the English batsmen in the first T20

Kuldeep Yadav bamboozled England in the first T20 by picking up 5 wickets. However, he was surprisingly dropped from the playing XI for the final T20 at Bristol. Considering the England batsmen's weakness against spinners, Kuldeep might be included in the playing XI again. He would look to create havoc in the English batting line-up in the ODIs too.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal will need to take more wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal bowled steadily in the T20 series but he wasn't able to pick up wickets. He took just one wicket in three T20s and failed to provide breakthroughs in the middle overs. The leg-spinner will need to step up and contribute more to the team's cause if India has to get better off England in the ODI series.

Fast bowlers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvi will be the leader of India's bowling attack

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a rare bad series failing to deliver at crucial junctures of the match. Bhuvneshwar leaked too many runs in the first T20 while failing to defend 12 runs in the last over in the 2nd T20. He missed the last T20 due to a stiff back and his presence was clearly missed by the Indian team. Moreover, in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the onus of leading the bowling attack will be on Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav troubled the English batsmen with his pace

Umesh Yadav was included in the playing XI because of Jasprit Bumrah's unavailability. While he did trouble the English batsmen with his pace, he wasn't consistent and gave away free runs, especially at the end of the innings. But India don't have too many options available in the squad and might have to persist with Umesh.