India vs Zimbabwe 2016: Probable Playing XI for India and Zimbabwe for 1st ODI

Jasprit Bumrah made a sensational debut in India’s last ODI

Here’s the likely team that India may field in Saturday’s game:

Batsmen

India will be missing out on almost all their key batsmen such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. As such, all eyes will be on skipper MS Dhoni to shoulder the responsibility of the batting line-up. Apart from him, in-form batsmen Manish Pandey and Lokesh Rahul may have an important part to play as well. The former had made his debut on India’s previous tour to Zimbabwe and will look to follow up on his century in his last ODI against Australia with a few more big ones.

In the absence of top players, Ambati Rayudu is among the senior statesmen in the team and he will have to make the most of his chances. The focus will also be on players like Karun Nair, Mandeep Singh and Faiz Fazal, who will be hoping to make their respective debuts in the series. Kedar Jadhav will also have fond memories of his tour to Zimbabwe last year as he had scored a maiden century.

All-rounders

Quite contrary to their opponents in the series, the Indians have included just two all-rounders in their squad – Axar Patel and Rishi Dhawan. Patel has impressed with the ball in his 22-match ODI career; however, he has failed to deliver with the bat thus far. On the other hand, Rishi Dhawan played just 3 matches on India’s tour to Australia but could not make much of an impact in either department.

Bowlers

Young Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah will find himself in the role of lead pacer in the absence of bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma. Barinder Sran, who made quite an impressive ODI debut in Australia, will be upbeat after a credible performance in the 2016 IPL for champions Sunrisers Hyderabad. India have in-form fast bowler Dhawal Kulkarni in their ranks, who bowled brilliantly in the IPL for Gujarat Lions, and also Saurashtra left-armer Jaydev Unadkat.

Although the Indian spin attack will be led by Axar Patel, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is the man everyone will be looking out for after his sensational IPL season for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Apart from these two, Haryana and Delhi Daredevils off-spinner Jayant Yadav has also been included in the squad that will be representing India.

Probable Playing XI

KL Rahul, Faiz Fazal, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (c) (wk), Ambati Rayudu, Karun Nair, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Dhawal Kulkarni, Barinder Sran, Jasprit Bumrah.