India vs Sri Lanka 2017: India's probable playing 11 for first ODI

In the absence of Virat Kohli, who has been rested for the limited-overs leg of the series against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma will lead the side for the first time. He will be boosted by the return of Hardik Pandya, who was rested for the Test series against Sri Lanka.

While the middle-order is certain to miss the experience of Kohli, India have plenty of other options to choose from. Against a side who have lost 12 ODIs on the trot, India will look to continue winning while also testing their bench strength. Before they make a lot of major changes, they will want to secure the series, with that in mind, here is a look at how they might line up for the first ODI in Dharamsala on December 10.

Here is India's probable playing 11 for first ODI:

Openers

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma made his comeback to the Test side in the series against Sri Lanka and continued his good form in 2017 as he scored a century in Nagpur and fifties in both innings of the Delhi Test.

In his last six ODIs, Rohit Sharma has scored two centuries and two fifties and he will be looking to continue that incredible form against Sri Lanka. As captain, he will also be looking to lead from the front and continue his IPL-winning form to his maiden stint as captain of the national side.

Shikhar Dhawan

An average of 67.9 with three centuries and four fifties from just 13 ODIs just highlights how much Shikhar Dhawan enjoys playing against Sri Lanka. The southpaw, who recently turned 32 will be looking to extend that stellar run against the visitors and look to join Virat Kohli and become only the seventh batsman to score over 1,500 international runs in 2017.

Middle-order

Iyer looks set to take over at No.3 in the absence of Virat Kohli

Shreyas Iyer

Considering the amount of cricket that he has played over the last two years, the decision to rest Virat Kohli for the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka certainly makes a lot of sense. That gives an opportunity to Shreyas Iyer, who made his T20I debut against New Zealand to make his ODI debut against Sri Lanka. The 23-year-old has flown under the radar so far in international cricket and will be keen to make his mark.

Manish Pandey

Despite not playing the ODI series against New Zealand, Manish Pandey looks set to take his spot at No.4 in the first ODI. Since his last international match, the 28-year-old has scored a fifty, century and double century in the three Ranji matches that he has played. Rich vein of form coupled with the vacancy in the middle-order will mean the right-hander will get another chance to cement his spot on the side.

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has been unlucky to not have played more than he has done in 2017. After scoring a crucial fifty in West Indies, he was dropped for the following series. However, an average of 105 in the New Zealand ODI series coupled with the absence of Kohli is likely to ensure that he is in the starting line-up.

MS Dhoni

In the absence of Virat Kohli and a relatively inexperienced batting line-up (barring openers), much of the responsibility will fall on MS Dhoni's shoulders. He has been in great form in 2017, a year in which he has scored over 700 runs for the first time since 2013 and averages in excess of 65. Closing in on 10,000 ODI runs, he will want to continue his impressive run against Sri Lanka.

All-rounders

Pandya will look to make an impact with both bat and ball

Hardik Pandya

After being rested for the Test series against Sri Lanka, Hardik Pandya will be eager to put in some good performances before heading for South Africa. The all-rounder has become an integral part of the Indian side since his debut in 2016. While he has contributed with both bat and ball on different occasions, he has failed to do it in the same game on a consistent basis.

In the New Zealand series, he also found it difficult to get going against spin early in his innings and that is something that he will want to correct against Sri Lanka.

Spinners

Kuldeep Yadav has developed a very good partnership with Chahal

Kuldeep Yadav

The absence of the experienced duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin hasn't been felt thanks to the development of Kuldeep Yadav into a wicket-taking option in the middle overs. Along with his partner-in-crime, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep has become an integral part of India's line-up in ODIs and T20Is.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Consistent performances in the IPL were finally rewarded this year as Chahal has finally got a consistent run in the side. He has repaid the faith shown with crucial wickets and has been an integral part of the bowling line-up, especially in the middle-overs, where he continues to confound the batsmen with his array of tricks. Despite the fact that he is a leg-spinner, the RCB star has consistently been economical and has grown into his role as the side's premier spinner.

Pacers

The deadly duo have been lethal in 2017

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Despite playing just the Kolkata Test, Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished the best figures in the recently-concluded Test series between India and Sri Lanka. The pacer just got married after the first Test and he will be looking to begin a new innings in his life with some success on the field and continue from where he left off.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah earned his maiden Test call-up for the Test series against South Africa and only just turned 24. He will be looking to celebrate that with a strong performance against Sri Lanka, against whom he has enjoyed plenty of success in his fledgling international career. In just six ODIs, he has 15 wickets against Sri Lanka, the most wickets he has against any opposition. He will look to continue that and go into the South Africa tour pushing for a place in the starting XI for the first Test.