India is past the horrendous journey of the test series, and it is time to expect better results from the team due to the change in the format. After all, India are the reigning World Champs and would be returning to the World Cup arena next year to defend their title albeit in hostile conditions in Australia and New Zealand. The World is watching them !! Well they already have had a taste of New Zealand recently where they could not convert opportunities and lost close matches. And the present series in England gives them a good chance to tinker and play around with their options especially with the batting.
India has opened with Rohit and Dhawan and of late both have been found out of sorts. It is time they start firing and stop gifting away their wickets. Virat Kohli can not always bail the team out. Virat's own form was suspect in the test series, but this champion lad has mastered the art of building an innings in the 50-over format. He showed welcome signs of return to form in the practice game last week with a well made 70 plus score. And so did Ambati Rayudu. Will Rayudu get a chance in the playing eleven needs to be seen. Raina should definitely get a look-in and Jadeja is a favourite to start off as the No 1 spinner in the side. So it is a toss sadly between Rahane and Rayudu. India might need the services of both, should the top half meekly surrender.
Ashwin has been a mainstay in the spin department since the last World Cup, but that was a long time ago. But he is no longer a spearhead. Maybe the opposition has found a way to work around him. So it would be interesting if Dhoni rewards the rookie Karn Sharma with a debut. Karn was impressive in the practice game, with 3 scalps, albeit all lower order batsman of a county side. But he comes into the squad in a rich vein of form, and the idea of fielding a side on a day is to field the best XI. So in my view, Karn needs a look in. Will Mr Shastri have a say in this? I would also be excited to see what Umesh Yadav can conjure up especially if he opens the bowling at the expense of Shami Ahmed or maybe Mohit Sharma. Bhuvi opens the bowling for sure, but who shall partner him?
England have their own interesting set of options. Moeen Ali has been in unputdownable wicket taking form in the test series, while being decent with the bat. Will he be rewarded for the same with a sustained run through the one dayers? Time will tell. Cook is a defensive captain and chances are he would not be looking too far in the future. But, Moeen is a spinner, and just like India, England think tank will also be looking towards preparing for the next year's World Cup. This means they would like to groom Stokes, Woakes and even Bopara (if he would have been in the side). I really wonder why he was omitted. He has been in great form whenever he has donned the English blues and a few times played the lone hand at the death. He is the perfect no 6 for England.
I am excited to see Alex Hales at the top of the order. He will be a dangerous batsman and India needs to get him early, because if he gets going, England are sure to post a 300 plus score on board. Ballance should get a game at 3 or 4, and that leaves Bell at 4 or 3 or maybe even 5 if Eoin Morgan wants to play up the order. Buttler is a certainty and then the flurry of allrounders.
It looks like an interesting duel in the 50 over format, and unless India bat like the champions they are, and their 'stars' bat even 50% of what they are capable of, India will struggle in this leg of the tour as well.
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