The India cricket team has the golden opportunity to warm up for the ICC Champions Trophy tomorrow in Ahmedabad. Considering the Men in Blue aren’t scheduled to play actual warm-up games, the India vs. England 3rd ODI will serve as perfect preparations for the 8-team tournament that starts on February 19. Having pocketed the series already, captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir are expected to make a couple of years.
Washington Sundar needs a go
The first would be resting Ravindra Jadeja. The all-rounder has been Team India’s best player of the series, and we all know he’ll be on the team come February 20. There is no point in having him now. Instead, Washington Sundar, who hasn’t gotten a game yet, should come in.
The team can promote Sundar to five, a position at which Axar Patel, who’s a left-handed batter like him, has batted. This way, the Men in Blue can determine whether Sundar can come into the team if the opposition has more left-handed batters than usual.
Kuldeep Yadav requires game time
Another spinner, Varun Chakaravarthy, might also be dropped for Kuldeep Yadav, who has played just two matches since November. The left-arm wrist spinner needs some game time. He’s the biggest spin ace Team India has. If Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t play, he will be the only X-factor the Men in Blue will have in the bowling lineup.
Harshit Rana’s trial over, Arshdeep Singh deserves the spot
And the final chance would be Harshit Rana going out and Arshdeep Singh coming in. The left-arm pacer might just be a starter for Team India at the ICC Champions Trophy, and he requires to be played as well. Arshdeep is much more versatile, and if the Men in Blue need to field just two pacers, he might be preferred with Bumrah.
India’s Predicted XI for 3rd England ODI
Rohit Sharma (c), Ꮪhubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Bench: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja
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