Predicted XI for India for the ODI Series against England

Lower Order

7.Hardik Pandya

For a long time during Dhoni’s tenure as captain, one element which he constantly harped the need for a seam- bowling all-rounder. Towards the end, he seemed to have found a couple of options in Stuart Binny and Rishi Dhawan, but neither could live up to the expectations.

But in the T20I leg of India's tour to Australia, Hardik Pandya emerged as someone, who could be invested for the future. The Baroda lad looked good if not thoroughly ready for international cricket and has certainly improved a lot after his time with the India A side Down Under.

With the Champions Trophy coming up in six months time, Pandya will look to begin the year on a good note and cement his place for that event in England.

8.Ravindra Jadeja

Playing his first limited-overs series since the West Indies T20Is in Florida, Ravindra Jadeja will look to carry his Test form into limited-overs, which was initially his primary format. The Saurashtra all-rounder has been a vital cog in India’s limited-overs wheel and had it not been for the long home season, would have featured in the series against New Zealand at home.

However, he now has six international matches to get into the limited-overs groove and it goes without saying Kohli will expect him to do an all-around job with the bat, ball and in the field.

9.Ravichandran Ashwin

Just like Jadeja, Ashwin will also be playing a limited-overs series after a considerable amount of time. The 30-year-old who had such a staggering 2016 with the ball, will look to begin the new year with a good showing in the limited-overs series against England.

Ashwin had an exceptional time with the ball against the same opposition towards the end of 2016 and will once again play a key role in coloured clothing. Kohli will look to employ him in the middle of the innings when the likes of Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes are in the middle and will depend on him to remove both players cheaply.

10.Bhuvaneshwar Kumar

The Uttar Pradesh cricketer seems to have regained his past form in the past 6-8 months, swinging the ball at good pace to trouble the batsman. Bhuvi also displayed good death bowling skills for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in last year’s IPL and is he can deliver in the last few overs in India colours, then he will have surely bolstered that aspect of the Indian bowling as well.

One thing that he will need to guard from is his injuries, which has hampered his progress a bit in recent times and if he can remain fit for longer periods, then he will surely be an asset for Kohli in the side.

11.Jasprit Bumrah

One player who has already become a key component of the bowling arsenal in just 12 months since making his debut is Jasprit Bumrah. The Gujarat cricketer has solved one of India’s biggest issues, that of a quality death bowler and will be relied upon heavily by Kohli, at the start and at the end of the innings.

One of the things that made such a difficult customer in 2016 was his awkward action and he will look to use that element to good effect in 2017 as well and provide India with some key breakthroughs with the ball.