Nidahas Trophy 2018: Expected Indian playing XI against Bangladesh in the final

Middle Order

#3 Suresh Raina

Raina has been a vital cog in the middle order

Ever since Suresh Raina has come back into the Indian side, the lanky left-hander has adopted a see the ball, hit the ball type of an approach evident from his strike rate of 137.33.

While Raina's aggressive play helps India maximise the first six to eight overs, the problem with that approach is that the bowler is always in the game with a hope to induce a mishit.

The immediate consequence of it is Raina, who is one of the best batsmen of spin bowling, is seldom around when the latter comes into the attack.

India would be hoping Raina gets a big one in the finals which will be prudent not only for the team but also for the Southpaw himself.

#4 KL Rahul

It will be a crucial game for Rahul

At No.4 comes KL Rahul.

It is an important game for the Indian Test opener who has been warming the bench for quite some time and would be hoping for a match-defining performance in a bid to stake his claim in India's white-ball setup.

In the two matches that Rahul has played thus far in the Nidahas Trophy, he has already achieved a dubious record of the first Indian batsman to get hit-wicket in a T20I (against Sri Lanka) and has accumulated 18 runs at a strike rate of 105.88.

#5 Manish Pandey

Pandey played a match-winning knock against Sri Lanka

Manish Pandey has carried his purple patch all the way from Centurion to Colombo. Pandey has shown remarkable temperament while coming in tricky situations.

Pandey who has accumulated 106 runs at a strike rate of 124.71 displayed his skill and temperament to the hilt in India's group stage encounter against Sri Lanka where he (42 unbeaten) and Karthik (39 not out) crafted a match-winning 68 run partnership to seal a six-wicket win for India.