Bangladesh vs India ODI series: India's Predicted Playing XI

India have announced a 17-member squad for the ODI series against the Bangla Tigers, which starts on December 4. The senior trio of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli have returned to the international fold after being rested for the New Zealand tour. The selectors have also included some exciting uncapped players such as Kuldeep Sen, Rajat Patidar, and Rahul Tripathi in the team. The last time Bangladesh hosted India for an ODI series was way back in 2015 and the Bangla Tigers stood tall, clinching the series 2-1. Rohit & co. have a well-rounded squad and would look to vindicate themselves this time around. However, it will be interesting what starting XI the team management decides to go with when the Men in Blue take the stage alongside Tamim Iqbal & co. Here is India’s predicted Playing XI for the ODI series against Bangladesh: 1. Rohit Sharma (C) Rohit Sharma is one of the finest opening batters in world cricket and has amassed a truckload of runs in both the white-ball formats. In the ODIs, the 35-year-old has featured in 233 matches and scored 9376 runs at a strike rate of 89.18. When it comes to the shortest format, he has scored 3853 runs in 148 games at a strike rate of 139.24. The flamboyant batter has all the shots in the book and can dismantle any bowling attack with his strokeplay. However, Rohit was not at his best at the recently culminated T20 World Cup 2022 and could manage mere 116 runs in six games at a strike rate of 106.42. The veteran batter would like to redeem himself in the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh and put on a show with the bat. Besides Rohit’s batting might, the ace batter is an astute tactician of the game and has displayed his terrific leadership skills in the Indian Premier League and also the international arena. So, when India take on the Bangla Tigers, the onus will again be on the Nagpur-born to lead his side to a series win. 2. Shikhar Dhawan Shikhar Dhawan has been a lynchpin of the Indian batting line-up in ODIs for over a decade. He has been prolific with the bat at the top of the order and provided the Men in Blue with solid starts. Also, the southpaw has steadied the ship when the team has been in trouble. The veteran batter has featured in 163 ODIs and aggregated 6747 runs at a strike rate of 91.72. Dhawan has been amongst the runs in the international circuit this calendar year and scored 642 runs in 18 ODIs played thus far at an average of 40.12. The ace Indian opener has been prolific with the bat on Bangladesh soil and aggregated 350 runs in seven ODIs at a strike rate of 83.33. Dhawan would look to bring his experience into play and thrive in the upcoming series against the Bangla Tigers. 3. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli has piled on runs for fun in the international circuit and has been India’s run machine across formats. In the ODIs, he has featured in 262 games and amassed an insane tally of 12344 runs at a strike rate of 92.83. Talking about the shortest format, the veteran batter has scored 4008 runs in 115 T20Is at a strike rate of 137.96. Kohli can shepherd the innings beautifully and allows stroke markers around him to play with freedom. Also, he has aced the art of pacing a run-chase and is fondly known as ‘Chase Master’. Kohli also has an aggressive aspect to his game and can take any bowling attacks to the cleaners. The Delhi-born has been in a pristine touch of late. In the T20 extravaganza in Australia, Kohli knocked the winds out of bowling attacks that came his way and scored 296 runs in six games at a strike rate of 136.40, which comprised four majestic half-centuries. He would look to carry on the good work in the upcoming ODI series against the Bangla Tigers. 4. Shreyas Iyer Shreyas Iyer has been a regular feature for the Men in Blue in the white-ball circuit. He has featured in 35 ODIs and scored 1379 runs at a strike rate of 98.85. When it comes to the shortest format, the 27-year-old has scored 1043 runs in 49 matches at a strike rate of 135.98. Iyer reads the game situation very well and builds his innings accordingly. His magnificent knock of 80 runs in 76 deliveries in the first game of the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand was a prime example of his batting might. This is the reason why the Mumbai-born has been India’s go-to man for the number three slot in Kohli’s absence. However, with the latter available for the Bangladesh tour, the team management is likely to slot him in at number four. The Indian batter has been quite phenomenal in the 50-over format this calendar year, having scored 566 runs in 13 games at an average of 62.88. Given the kind of form he is in, it would not be a surprise if he plays some blistering knocks in Bangladesh. 5. KL Rahul KL Rahul has been a run-bank for the Men in Blue in the white-ball circuit. The 30-year-old has featured in 72 T20Is and notched up 2265 runs at a strike rate of 139.12. Coming to the ODIs, he has played 45 matches and scored 1665 runs at a strike rate of 87.86. Rahul has been India’s premier opener in T20Is and the longest format. However, with the presence of the veteran opening duo of Dhawan and Rohit in the 50-over format, the Bangalore-born has slotted in at the middle-order and the same will be the case in the forthcoming series against Bangladesh. The ace batter has done a decent job in the 17 ODIs he has batted in the middle order and scored 673 runs at a good strike rate. However, Rahul has not been at his best in the limited-overs circuit of late. At the T20 extravaganza in Australia, he was all at sea against the top-ranked nations. Along with the lack of runs, the Indian vice-captain’s conservative batting approach has come under scrutiny. The upcoming ODI series is a great opportunity for Rahul to get into the groove and show the world why is so highly rated in the cricketing circles. 6. Rishabh Pant Rishabh Pant has been India’s first-choice wicket-keeper in ODIs and Tests for the last couple of years. The 25-year-old has been the game-changer for the Men in Blue and has set the stage ablaze with his jaw-dropping knocks. The longest format of the game has been his happy hunting ground where the 25-year-old has scored 2123 runs in 31 matches at an average of 43.32. Pant’s numbers in the 50-over format are not bad either and he has scored 855 runs in 29 games at a strike rate of 107.54. This includes a sensational knock of 125* runs in 113 deliveries against England earlier this year, to take his team across the line. However, he has not delivered the goods on a consistent basis in the ODIs. With the likes of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan breathing down his neck, it is high time he vindicates himself in the format. The swashbuckling batter brings an X-factor to the Indian team with his fearless brand of cricket. Moreover, his presence in the middle order provides flexibility to the batting line-up as the southpaw can be used as a floater and could be sent to bat in case of a favourable match-up. This is why the team management has backed Pant constantly and he would like to repay their faith in the clash against Bangladesh. 7. Washington Sundar Washington Sundar has been around the Indian white-ball circuit for the last couple of years and has done a fairly decent job with both bat and ball. In T20Is, the 23-year-old has bagged 26 scalps in 32 games at an economy of 7.33 and struck 47 runs at a strike rate of 142.42. When it comes to the 50-over format, he has taken eight wickets in as many games at an economy of 5.03 and scored 94 runs at a strike rate of 103.29. Though bowling has been Sundar’s stronger suit, his batting prowess has been on the rise of late. This was evident from the first game of the ongoing ODI series against the Blackcaps where he hammered the fiery New Zealand pace attack all-round the park and scored 37* runs off mere 16 deliveries. The Chennai-born is known to strangle batters with his tight lines and lengths and has the skills to deliver the goods with the new ball as well. On the batting front, he has played crucial cameos slotting in at the lower down the order. Sundar’s inclusion brings balance to the side and his form will be crucial to India’s chances against Bangladesh. 8. Axar Patel Axar Patel has been a proven performer in the white-ball circuit. He has bagged 34 scalps in 37 T20Is at an economy of 7.48 and scored 171 runs at a strike rate of 132.55. In the ODI format, the 28-year-old has bagged 53 wickets in 44 matches at an economy of 4.40 and scored 273 runs at a strike rate of 106.22. However, the Gujarat-born has been quite awful with his performances at the T20 World Cup 2022. Axar could only take three wickets in five games at an economy of 8.62 and also scored mere nine runs in those games. The upcoming ODI series against Tamim & co. will be a golden chance for the ace all-rounder to find his mojo back. The left-arm spinner is a smart operator with the ball and will form a great foil to Sundar. Also, he can play crucial knocks for the side slotting in at lower down the order. Axar is an asset to the team and the think tank would hope the southpaw displays his all-round might in the encounter against Bangladesh. 9. Shardul Thakur Shardul Thakur has been a consistent performer for the Men in Blue across formats. The 31-year-old has made 28 appearances for India in the 50-over format and bagged 40 wickets at an economy of 6.44. Also, he is no muck with the bat and has scored 258 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 117.27. Shardul is a genuine wicket-taker and has the ability to bowl at any phase of the game. The Palghar-born has a variety of slower bowls and cutters in his repertoire, which batters have found tough to tackle. He has been at his wicket-taking best this calendar year picking 18 scalps in 13 ODIs played thus far. The bowling all-rounder has displayed his skills with the bat in the international arena on many occasions. Thus, Shardul’s inclusion increases the batting depth of the team and allows batters up-front to play more freely. He would look to put on an all-round show in the ODI series against Bangladesh. 10. Deepak Chahar With Mohammed Shami being ruled out of the ODI series owing to his shoulder injury, India is likely to go in with Deepak Chahar. Though Umran Malik has been named as the official replacement, India will look to put experience into play, thereby using Deepak Chahar in the combination. Ever since he recovered from injury, Chahar has been impressive with the ball. In the white-ball games, he has come in handy with the bat too. On the slow Bangladesh pitches, Chahar's expertise of swinging the ball will help India get the crucial wickets. Additionally, he comes in handy with the bat too, which will be an advantage for India. He can add depth to India's batting in the bottom order and can keep the game going towards the ending stages. Chahar has proven to be a key player during the powerplay in white-ball games and thus will be looking to wreak havoc on the Bangladesh soil. 11. Mohammed Siraj The stocks of Mohammed Siraj have witnessed an exponential rise in the international circuit from the time he made his Test debut in December 2020. The 28-year-old has provided many match-winning contributions for the Men in Blue in Tests and became a regular feature in the national team. He has bagged 40 scalps in 14 Test matches at an average of 30.77. Touted to be a red-ball specialist, the Hyderabad-born has also shown his bowling skills in limited-overs cricket this calendar year. In the T20Is, Siraj has bagged seven wickets in four games at an incredible economy of 6.68. When it comes to the 50-over format, he has taken 18 scalps in just 12 games, and that too at an economy of 4.45. Siraj’s addition has provided more bite to the Indian seam attack and the right-arm fast bowler has been included in the upcoming 50-overs leg against The Bangla Tigers. The ace seamer would look to carry on the good work and wreak havoc with the ball on Bangladesh soil.

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Bangladesh vs India ODI series: India's Predicted Playing XI

The India tour of Bangladesh will kick-start with the ODIs on December 4 and the action will move to Tests from December 14.

2. Shikhar Dhawan

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