Nailed in test series, Dhoni faces dilemma over playing XI against England

New Delhi: After the humiliating test series, Team India is now set to shift the gear to the faster format of the game. They would look to make a fresh beginning and salvage lost pride when they take on England in a five-match ODI cricket series.From here every ODI will be a preparatory step for every player for ICC World Cup 2015 and defend the 2011 title. Already, the Indian selectors have taken stock of the situation at hand and the 17-man squad is a reflection of their thoughts. Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be in a big dilemma of what would be the playing XI for the first ODI. If he wants to continue with the 5 bowler strategy or he wants an extra batsman. The problem of opening duo also persists to Dhoni. There is no experienced opener like Gambhir, so he has to depend on Dhawan, Rohit and Rahane. Three uncapped players Karn Sharma, Sanju Samson and Dhawal Kulkarni are also included in ODI squad, so it would be interesting to see how many opportunities these youngsters will get.India last played an ODI was in Asia Cup where they finished third after losing to Pakistan and Sri Lanka and failing to qualify for the final. India TV analyses what would be the probable Team India playing XI for first ODI:Shikhar DhawanShikhar Dhawan can be the first choice for Dhoni to open the innings for India. He may be in poor form in IPL and the recent test series but his performance in Champions Trophy in England last year might be the plus point for him. With only three specialist openers in the team, Dhawan can be given the top priority. He was picked in India's squad for the Champions Trophy last year and sizzled that tournament with two centuries in the side's first two matches. He was the leading run scorer for India in Asia Cup 2014 with 192 runs in 4 ODIs. In 39 ODIs he has 1504 runs at an average of 41.77 with strike rate of 89.52. These figures of him might force Dhoni to forget his past.Rohit SharmaIt all came together finally in 2013, when Rohit was promoted to open the innings in ODIs. The move turned out to be a masterstroke, as Rohit found form in the Champions Trophy, and then went into overdrive in the ODI series against Australia, scoring two centuries, including 209, only the third double in ODI cricket. He played only one game in the recent test series in which he couldn't perform well. In Asia Cup earlier this year, his bat couldn't speak much. He made only 108 runs in 4 matches with the strike rate of 77.69. Overall in 123 ODIs, he scored 3427 runs at an average of 35.69 and strike rate of 78 which are the much better figures than that of Rahane's. Though Rahane's form is better than him, Dhoni would have to make a choice between the two. He may be part time bowling option too for the captain.Virat KohliA typical modern-day cricketer, Virat Kohli plays his game aggressively, bares his emotions loudly in public, yet retains the element of maturity that forms an integral part of every good and great player. His useful 71 runs in the warm up against Middlesex is certainly going to help in the first one day.Virat's presence in the team not only strengthens the middle order but he is a good fielder too. He went through his worst nightmare in the test series but his performance in South Africa and New Zealand tour where he was the lone fighter may seal his spot in the playing XI. He was also the second his scorer in Asia Cup with a total of 189 runs including a brilliant innings of 136.The master of ODIs had played 134 ODIs and scored 5634 runs with an average of 52 and strike rate of almost 90. His stats are the best in whole 17 man squad.Suresh RainaAn attacking left-hander who goes for the big shots with impunity and clears the field with a swashbuckling flourish when at the top of his game, Raina is also equally capable of attracting applause as an electric fielder in the circle.He forms an attacking middle order with Kohli, Dhoni and Rayudu. If the openers fail, he can come as a rescue. He was in good form in IPL and also scored 67 runs in 3 ODIs in Bangladesh tour. Getting closer to 200 ODIs, he has scored 4663 runs in 192 matches with a staggering strike rate of 91.61 and average of 35. He too can a part time bowling option for Dhoni. Ambati RayuduAmbati Rayudu's ODI stats may not be much impressive but what matters is the recent run form. He scored 72 runs in the warm up game against Middlesex at Lord's which might favor his inclusion in the playing XI. Though there are others who can replace him in 5th position. If Rahane doesn't open he might be dropped to 5th and replace Rayudu. Other than him, the latest entrant Sanju Samson who showed his worth in T20 cricket is also another option for Dhoni. But lack of experience for Samson may cost him the place. Rayudu's domestic performance earned him a maiden call-up to the India ODI squad for their tour of Zimbabwe, where he scored a debut fifty.Mahendra Singh DhoniMS Dhoni doesn't need any words on why he should be included in the playing XI. Infact he cannot be replaced by anyone, afterall he is the skipper of the team. His captaincy was criticized in the test series but his batting was impressive as he was the second highest scorer for India. If Dhoni is replaced, one needs to find a batsman, a wicket keeper and a skipper which means he himself is a combination of 3 players. He is the only Indian skipper who has all the major ICC titles in his pocket. He led the team to victory in last year's Champions Trophy in England. However if Dhoni is injured, Sanju Samson is the only option left to replace him.Ravindra JadejaThe fourth best all-rounder in ODI cricket, Ravindra Jadeja has always been the favorite of his skipper Dhoni. He can bat, he can bowl and he can field, what else you expect from a player. Despite his poor form with both bat and ball in the test series, he may be included in the squad for his short yet useful cameos after the batsmen failure. Karn Sharma and Stuart Binny are other options for Dhoni to replace Jadeja but in the first ODI he might not take risk with an uncapped player. Jadeja's record with the ball in ODIs, his fielding and his rocket arm made him a valuable player in shorter formats, which shows in his US$2 million price tag at Chennai Super Kings. In August 2013 he topped the ICC's ODI rankings, the first Indian since Anil Kumble in 1996.Shane Warne, his former IPL captain at Rajasthan Royals, nicknamed him "rockstar" because of Jadeja's confidence in his own ability, but his utility lies in his ability to do the dirty work.Ravichandran AshwinAshwin is one of the rare players who came into the public's reckoning through the IPL and yet was good enough to hold his own in bigger forms of cricket. After the recent test series, he proved more as a lower order batsman than a right arm off break bowler. With Jadeja and Ashwin in the squad, Team India's bowling attack will be more aggressive. He is also the latest cricketer to be awarded Arjuna Award and also has been nominated by BCCI for Padma Shri award. In 79 ODIs, he has 106 wickets with an economy rate of 4.90.Bhuvneshwar KumarThere is no doubt that Bhuvi will be in the playing XI or not as he is the main strength of India's pace department. He emerged as a next all-rounder in Team India in test series where he was adjudged Man of the Series with James Anderson. Bhuvneshwar said a roaring hello to international cricket. In his first international over, he bowled Mohammad Hafeez with his first ODI delivery. Apart from the swing, Bhuvneshwar's control of it and his cricketing smartness stand out. It stood out the time when he, as a 19-year-old, worked Sachin Tendulkar over for his first first-class duck in Indian domestic cricket.In 35 ODIs played, he has 37 wickets at an economy of 4.74.Umesh YadavThe young medium fast bowler from Maharashtra led Kolkata Knight Riders to their second IPL title earlier this year. As a fast bowler, he has many skills. He regularly bowls at over 140kph, moves the ball both ways, and has a pretty effective bouncer. Many cricket experts were also unhappy of not including him in the test squad against England.In the recent India A tour of Australia his all-round performance against Australia A with a 5-wicket haul and a brilliant innings of 90 helped the Indian total to reach 501. However the ultimate result of this unofficial test was a draw. He only started considering a career in cricket as a 19-year-old, an age by which the best young Indian cricketers are in the running for a national cap.In 31 ODIs he has 33 wickets at a bit costly economy rate of 6.05.Mohammed ShamiA promising seamer from Bengal, Shami Ahmed had played only 15 first-class and 15 List A games when he was drafted into India's ODI team to play Pakistan in Delhi in January 2013. He showed that the faith wasn't misplaced, as he bowled tight lines in a low-scoring match to return figures of 9-4-23-1, thus becoming only the eighth bowler, and the first Indian, to bowl four or more maiden overs on his ODI debut.He played in three tests against England but was dropped in 4th test because of his poor and inconsistent bowling.Choosing the second pacer after Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be the biggest dilemma for Dhoni. Mohit Sharma who had good bowling form in last IPL and Bangladesh tour is also the next bowling option. Apart from him, Dhawal Kulkarni, the third uncapped player who had a wonderful tour of Australia with India A is the third option for the second pace bowler. In the quadrangular A-team one day series in Australia, Kulkarni was the leading wicket taker with 14 wickets in 6 games at an economy of 4.61. But Shami who also hit an useful unbeaten half century in the first test against England at Trent Bridge and built a solid 110 runs partnership for 10th wicket with Bhuvneshar Kumar might give him an advantage above Mohit and Dhawal Kulkarni. He has 50 wickets in 29 ODIs at an economy of 5.82 with the best figures of 4/50.

Nailed in test series, Dhoni faces dilemma over playing XI against England

New Delhi: After the humiliating test series, Team India is now set to shift the gear to the faster format of the game. They would look to make a fresh beginning and salvage lost pride

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