India's Predicted XI For 1st ODI vs England: No Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul?
Through a three-match ODI series against England India starts their Champions Trophy preparations while evaluating the performance and physical condition of their seasoned players.
India's Predicted XI For 1st ODI vs England: No Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul?
Cricket NDTV sports: The Indian cricket team begins their ICC champions trophy 2025 preparations through a three-match ODI series between India vs England 2025. The selection of the playing XI generates significant interest because of the uncertainty about whether Jasprit Bumrah (selected only for the third ODI so far) will be available for the Champions Trophy. Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav come back from injury as selection officials remain undecided about who will lead as the top wicketkeeper.
The Indian cricket team evaluates the form and fitness of experienced players during the final stage of their Champions Trophy preparations with their upcoming three-match ODI series against England starting Thursday to establish the correct lineup balance. Skipper Rohit Gurunath Sharma along with Virat Kohli face intense examination following their poor performance in red-ball cricket. Following their underwhelming performances in the Ranji Trophy last month, these two players will now focus on delivering powerful performances in a format which they have controlled for multiple years.
Tests have shown a deepening slump and the two key performers from India's recent T20 World Cup win faced intense pressure to choose their next steps in the past three months.
The ODI series against England serves as India's final preparation match before the Champions Trophy which takes place in Pakistan and Dubai starting February 19. The team has multiple concerns beyond the current performance of these two players.
The team management faces uncertainty regarding which player should occupy the wicket-keeper position. The selectors need to decide whether KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant deserves selection for the playing XI. The batting lineup will start with skipper Rohit and deputy Shubman Gill followed by Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya before the wicketkeeper-batsman takes the number five position.
In the 2023 World Cup when Pant did not keep wickets Rahul stepped up to perform exceptionally well by scoring 452 runs which established him as one of India's most reliable middle-order batters.
The steadfastness of his performance has helped build a strong ODI team while his ability to rotate the strike during middle overs continues to be problematic.
