With Team India ready to play Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series in July, it would be fascinating to watch what lineup they choose. Team India will be without some of their regular players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah. This situation will open doors for a variety of young players, as they will finally get the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities on an international stage while representing their country.
Although Sri Lanka’s ODI rankings have slipped in recent years, the country has long been a serious challenger for India in cricket. India will need to field their strongest lineup against Sri Lanka, who will also benefit from home advantage during the series.
Shikhar Dhawan
In the absence of other senior members, the seasoned opener will be the first name on the playing XI and will also be expected to lead the side. For the last several years, Shikhar Dhawan has been a regular member of the Indian side in ODIs and T20Is. In the IPL 2021, he was in excellent batting form. Dhawan was also outstanding in the ODI series against England earlier this year. With an eye on playing for his nation until at least the 2023 World Cup, the 35-year-old will want to make an impression in this series.
Prithvi Shaw
The 21-year-old is slated to join Dhawan at the top. Shaw has been in excellent batting form since the start of the season. Shaw, a right-handed batsman, was the highest run-scorer in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21, with 827 runs in eight innings. In the tournament, he also hit four centuries. Shaw maintained his form in the IPL 2021 as well. This may be the perfect occasion for the Mumbai cricketer to make an impression in international cricket.
Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal has risen to prominence in recent years due to his outstanding batting in the local circuit. Padikkal scored 737 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21, smashing four centuries and three half-centuries in seven matches. Padikkal usually bats first, however in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, he might bat third.
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav, one of India’s most consistent domestic and IPL performances, is expected to make his ODI debut against Sri Lanka. He had a fantastic international T20I debut against England, blasting a fifty in his maiden match. The middle-order will be strengthened as a result of his entry. The Sri Lanka trip will provide the ideal opportunity to assess Suryakumar Yadav’s ODI batting abilities.
Ishan Kishan
In the ODIs against Sri Lanka, India will require an aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman in the absence of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul. In his first T20I against England, Kishan hit a fifty. The wicketkeeper might be in line to make his ODI debut against Sri Lanka after a somewhat poor first half of IPL 2021.
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is another important player who should play in the ODI series against Sri Lanka for India. In recent years, Shreyas Iyer has been a steady player for the Indian squad. He has also been a regular member of the Indian side in the limited-overs format over the last year due to his excellent batting. Iyer had shoulder surgery after being hurt in the first ODI against England in March.
Hardik Pandya
Pandya will be raring to play in the Sri Lanka series, seeking to make an impact with both his bat and his ball. With 1267 runs and 55 wickets in 60 ODIs, Hardik Pandya has been a match-winner for India. The 27-year-old will be one of the Men in Blue’s senior players, and he will be expected to stand up and perform for his team.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The seasoned bowler has struggled with injuries in recent years, which is why he was left out of the Test team for the WTC final. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, on the other hand, is scheduled to return for the ODI series and head the Indian pace attack. Bhuvneshwar has extensive international experience and has been a member of the Indian squad for several years. As a result, Bhuvneshwar Kumar should be included in India’s playing XI for the first One-Day International against Sri Lanka.
Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar has established himself as a potential bowler for India after making his international debut in 2018. With 18 wickets in 13 T20I matches, he has been a fantastic bowler. The 28-year-old is set to form a devastating seam-bowling partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India’s next seam-bowling attack. Deepak Chahar can be a nightmare to face on his best days because of his ability to swing the ball both ways.
T Natarajan
T Natarajan has risen to prominence as a result of his outstanding bowling performance in the IPL 2020. Last year, he was allowed to play in an away series against Australia, and he made his international debut. He grabbed two wickets in the lone One-Day International he played against Australia. T Natarajan will have plenty of chances to demonstrate his bowling prowess against Sri Lanka. He should play in the first One-Day International against Sri Lanka.
Yuzvendra Chahal
The leg-spinner has been out of sorts in recent months, and the Sri Lanka series is the ideal opportunity for him to reclaim his form. Chahal has the capacity to help the squad make breakthroughs. He’ll be a fantastic bowler to spearhead the spin assault against Sri Lanka.
