India's strongest ODI XI for the Sri Lanka series

India's squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, which was announced yesterday, expectedly featured several new faces.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Rana, Krishnappa Gowtham and Chetan Sakariya earned their maiden call-ups to the Indian team, with Shikhar Dhawan named the captain and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the southpaw's deputy.

The tour will begin with three ODIs on July 13, followed by three T20Is in the same month.

India's squad: Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Rana, Ishan Kishan (Wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (Wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, K Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Vice-captain), Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya

Here is India's strongest ODI XI for the Sri Lanka series.

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Openers: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prithvi Shaw

Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw

By the time the 2023 World Cup rolls around, Shikhar Dhawan will be around 37 years old. But India have retained their faith in the opener in the ODI format, with his performances showing no sign of slowing down. The captain of the side for the tour, he will look to lead from the front and impart his knowledge to the plethora of inexperienced players.

Dhawan's Delhi Capitals opener partner Prithvi Shaw has earned a recall to the Indian team on the basis of his performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Indian Premier League. He has played only three ODIs so far and has scores of 20, 24 and 40. It may not be long before we see the right-hander score his maiden ODI ton.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal will serve as the backup openers.

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Middle Order: Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Manish Pandey

Suryakumar Yadav

The middle order picks itself to a certain extent in the ODI format. Suryakumar Yadav will make his 50-over debut as he attempts to become a regular across both white-ball formats for India, while Manish Pandey slots in at No. 5 as one of the few experienced middle-order batsmen in the side.

The role of wicket-keeper is a toss-up between Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson, both of whom have never played an ODI for India before. The former might get the nod despite his indifferent IPL season - not only is he a southpaw who adds variety in the middle order, but Samson hasn't really shown the ability to construct big innings in the recent past.

Nitish Rana will wait on the sidelines for an opportunity.

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All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya

India v England - 5th T20 International

The Pandya brothers - Hardik and Krunal - will take their places in the lower-middle order as they did during the England series. While Hardik's bowling availability is yet to be ascertained, Krunal should pip Gowtham to a spot in the playing XI. India are a bit short of all-rounders in the squad.

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Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav

2019 IPL Final - Mumbai v Chennai

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been appointed as the vice-captain of the side, will lead the Indian pace attack against Sri Lanka. He struggled with a niggle during the Indian Premier League and didn't really impress, but was exceptional in the preceding England series.

The other two pacers are also straightforward choices. Deepak Chahar has played only three ODIs, the last of which came in 2019, and he will look to translate his T20I form into the longer format. Navdeep Saini, a bowler who has fallen out of favour in the recent past, adds an exciting dimension to the attack with his raw pace and aggression.

The lone frontline spinner could be one of Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and Rahul Chahar. The left-armer should get the nod because Sri Lanka have a few left-handers, and he desperately needs to build his confidence. Moreover, Chahar has never played an ODI before, while Chahal lost his place in the side earlier this year.

Young Chetan Sakariya might be a bit too raw for international cricket at the moment and should warm the bench during the ODI series. Varun Chakravarthy may have been selected with an eye on the T20 World Cup and may sit out the first three games of the tour.