IND vs ENG ODI series: 3 selection problems for Rohit Sharma & Rahul Dravid

IND vs ENG ODI series – IND vs ENG 1st ODI: Having clinched the T20 series with a game to spare, Rohit Sharma and Co. will now move over to the 50-over format in the final segment of the India tour of England. The series marks the beginning of India’s preparations for the 2023 World Cup at home and coach Rahul Dravid will be keen to set a blueprint, as he has done in the T20 format. Follow India vs England live updates on Insidesport.IN

India have a plethora of options heading into the ODIs, and Rahul Dravid will be keen to sort out a few of them at the end of the tour. The head coach and captain Rohit Sharma will have to field some tough calls and here are three selection headaches India will face ahead of the IND vs ENG 1st ODI at the Oval.

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IND vs ENG ODI series: 3 Selection Problems ailing India as Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma eye ODI blueprint ahead of 2023 World Cup – Check out

Problem 1: Shreyas Iyer or Suryakumar Yadav?

While India’s top 3 have been staple for the better part of the last decade, it is the middle order where the Men in Blue have struggled. Among the current crop, Shreyas Iyer and Sruyalklumar Yadav have both tussled for places on the side, doing their best in the limited opportunities presented to them.

In KL Rahul’s absence, India will have to back either of the Mumbai batsmen, with Suryakumar Yadav currently leading the chase with a scintillating century at Trent Bridge in the IND vs ENG 3rd T20. In his seven ODI games, Surya has scored 267 runs with two half-centuries. The most eye-catching part is his high strike rate of 103.09 alongside his average of 53.4

Shreyas meanwhile is largely more experienced having made his ODI debut in 2017. In 26 games, the Kolkata Knight Riders captain has managed 947 runs at an average of 41.17. Shreyas has nine cities to his name and one century, proving to be an important contender for the role.

Problem 2: Shardul Thakur or Mohammed Siraj or Prasidh Krishna

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are first-choice pacers in the 50-over format, but India will have to make a tough decision for the third-choice pacer in the side. Shardul Thakur is the most experienced among the lot, having played 19 games. While the Delhi Capitals pacer provides batting depth his numbers have been poor, conceding over 6 runs per over in his career so far.

Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna meanwhile have only played a handful of T20 games, featuring in four and seven matches respectively. Both have an economy of under 5, but Krishna’s average of 16.72 is half of what Siraj has managed so far.

Arshdeep Singh is also in the mix, having been named in the ODI squad for the first time. The left-arm pacer adds variety to the attack and his ability at the death could come in handy for India. The 23-year-old has played 17 List A matches for Punjab, taking 21 wickets at an average of 30.95.

Problem 3: Where does Rishabh Pant bat?

Rishabh Pant has been in fine form for India in ODIs, scoring five fifties in the last 12 innings in the format. The left-hander had opened against West Indies in one ODI but has floated around in the middle order. Rohit and Dravid will hope to nail down a fixed position for the swash-buckling left-hander in the team. With Hardik Pandya also returning, Pant is once again likely to bat at 4, where his average drops to 28.50 while at No.5 he averages 44.28.