India's Predicted Playing XI for the ODI series against New Zealand

After a successful T20I series that India won quite comprehensively, they will now lock horns with the New Zealand side in a three-match ODI series with the first match starting on February 5, 2020. The Men in Blue’s fortunes in the 50-over format has been much better against New Zealand, given that they had won 4-1 the last time they toured the country before the 2019 World Cup. It was a sublime performance then and even this time, Kohli and Co. would be hoping to put up a formidable show again. One of the biggest things to be considered for this much-awaited ODI series is the formation of the Men in Blue team. While they have been experimenting in the T20 format, the same thing cannot be said about the ODIs, given that these matches have been lesser in the number given that this is a T20 World Cup year. Will Kedar Jadhav continue in the team despite being 35 years old and in no scheme of things for the 2023 World Cup? Will Shardul Thakur get a chance to prove himself in ODIs as well? Navdeep Saini to cement his spot? Many things will get unfold when the two sides lock horns in the three-match ODI series. Let’s take a look at Team India’s Predicted XI for the New Zealand ODI series: 1. Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) After a stupendous 2019 in the ODI format where he was the highest run-getter as an opener with more than eight centuries to his name; Rohit Sharma ruled the roost. Rohit had made 169 runs in 5 matches the last time with the best score of 87. However, since then, the right-hander has shifted gears into another level and will be a crucial element if India wishes to get a winning start. The Mumbai Indians skipper has been one of the most consistent performers for the Men in Blue. Rohit Sharma had a good series against Australia at home to start 2020, as he made one century in the series decider and averaged 57, as India won the series 2-1. The Indian team will be hoping for a similar outing from the Nagpur-born right-hander this time as well. 2. KL Rahul (WK) KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter) The Australia series at home proved to be a game-changer for KL Rahul. He was accommodated in the playing XI as Shikhar Dhawan returned to the team, but had to take over keeping duties from Rishabh Pant, who had suffered a concussion. This transition proved successful for Rahul, who delivered impressive batting performances up the order along with keeping the wickets diligently. His keeping was also neat and tidy, resulting in Pant losing his place in the XI and he was even backed by the captain as well. The Karnataka batsman is also touted to do wonders for Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming IPL 2020 after being successful in cementing his spot in the Indian side. Rahul did well in the T20I series in New Zealand as well and him going through a purple patch with the bat is just the thing India needs at the moment to conquer the Kiwis in their own backyard. 3. Virat Kohli (C) Virat Kohli. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP) (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images) Virat Kohli was just behind Rohit in terms of scoring runs in ODIs in 2019 but was the highest run-getter overall in the formats. Even in the ODIs, he has been a prolific scorer over the years and is now ranked sixth in terms of most runs in the format with 11792 runs in just 245 matches with the next active batsmen after him being Rohit Sharma with 9115 runs in 224 matches. Kohli would love to continue bettering his record against the Kiwis as he has 1303 runs in 23 matches with one century and 7 half-centuries and the best score of 154*. In New Zealand, that record stands at 521 runs in 10 matches with one century and three fifties with a best score of 123 at an average of 57.89. Kohli also would love to win another one-day series in New Zealand, like he did last time. This is a format which may not be in focus much for this year and the next year, but it will definitely be a good chance to test out the bench strength. 4. Shreyas Iyer Shreyas Iyer (Photo by DAVID ROWLAND/AFP via Getty Images) Shreyas Iyer is having a very good T20I series against New Zealand so far and would love to translate that success in the 50-over format as well. His record in ODIs is nothing but ordinary despite a very good start against Sri Lanka in 2017. He has shown an inclination to cement the No.4 spot in the batting order and has the backing of the team and the captain. Iyer displayed some weakness against leg-spin and pure pace against Australia, at home recently. But his performance has been nothing but amazing so far. Also, the absence of three top-level New Zealand pacers in ODI series will give a boost to his confidence. This is a golden chance for Shreyas Iyer to justify the team management and the selectors that the faith they have put in him and given him a long rope. 5. Manish Pandey Manish Pandey. (Photo Source: Twitter) Manish Pandey might be back in contention at the no.5 spot in the batting order, which may suit him better rather than a finisher. He also has had a start-stop career so far, while has squandered many opportunities before as well. He had broken onto the scene with a sublime century against Australia on their soil, but since then tapered off a bit. However, he has been consistently scoring runs at the moment, especially coming down the order and playing the role of a finisher. Batting out of position, lower down the order, Pandey has not got the chance to bat longer and hence will be looking for a promotion in the batting lineup to prove his merit and point for India. 6. Kedar Jadhav Kedar Jadhav. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Kedar Jadhav has continued to find a place in the ODI team despite this being majorly the format he has found success in. In 71 matches, he has 1354 runs at an average of 42.31 with 2 centuries and 6 fifties and he also has 27 wickets with his off-spin. A very good catcher close in and in the outfield. Jadhav’s main problem has been his fitness. Recently troubled with hamstring problems, Jadhav has made a good comeback to the team and played against West Indies at home. He has been given another chance to continue holding the fort as a part-timer until Hardik Pandya returns to claim his spot. At almost 35 years of age, Jadhav has nothing more to prove and would look to impress enough to get in contention for the T20 World Cup, if he gets enough chance to bat. 7. Ravindra Jadeja Ravindra Jadeja (Photo Source: Twitter) Ravindra Jadeja is slowly becoming the go-to man for Virat Kohli whenever he wants to create pressure from one end and stem the flow of runs. In 162 ODIs, he has 185 scalps with best bowling of 5/36 and economy of 4.90, his strongest suit. He has seen a resurgence as a batsman as well, given his most memorable innings came against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup. Jadeja has continued to contribute with the bat more and his off-spin has always been reliable more than anything. He has now become a sure shot member of the team going forward and unlike his Test team partner Ravichandran Ashwin, managed to rise like a phoenix after the 2017 debacle. In New Zealand, his job would be as usual, to keep the runs down in the middle overs and use the bounce produced by the wickets to chip in with few dismissals. His fielding is just a huge plus point for the team and though there are occasional blips, he still remains one of the greatest fielders the game has ever seen. 8. Yuzvendra Chahal India’s Yuzvendra Chahal (Photo by Marty MELVILLE/AFP) Yuzvendra Chahal is expected to win the battle of spinners between him and Kuldeep Yadav, when it comes to ODI cricket, despite Yadav’s recent record including the hat-trick against the West Indies. Chahal has been cooling his heels in the 50-over format since the match against West Indies in August of 2019. But he has shown amazing control and guile in the T20I series against New Zealand recently and given Kuldeep’s strike rate of picking wickets in his last six matches, where he has picked only six wickets, at home. There are more chances of Chahal being given a chance to against the Kiwis. Leg-spinners have always troubled New Zealand batsmen, no matter how good they are and Chahal had picked 9 wickets in 5 matches last time these two teams had met in New Zealand in an ODI series. 9. Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo Source: Twitter) Jasprit Bumrah will be playing his first ODI series in New Zealand, given that he had been rested the last time in 2019. The right-hand quick has made a decent enough comeback from his back injury and has looked rusty, to say the least. He has picked just one wicket against Australia in three matches. And against New Zealand in the T20I series, he went for 45 runs in the Hamilton T20I match and also gave away 17 runs in the super over. Let’s hope that the key to India’s success gets back his form sooner than later, as he will be a key component for the Indian team in the three-match ODI series, which his team would look to win before moving to the Test matches. Bumrah himself will be itching to get those yorkers right and then keep his No.1 bowler tag in ODI intact, along with his rating. 10. Navdeep Saini Navdeep Saini of India. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images) Navdeep Saini is just the right bowler to complement Bumrah. Like the Gujarat pacer, Saini has tremendous pace and can crank it up to high 150kph if needed to showoff, something he did against Sri Lanka at home recently. He missed the first three T20I matches as Kohli didn’t want to mess with the winning combination. But his inclusion in the ODI team will give Kohli an option who could pick wickets even in the middle overs and get the momentum going when the thing is looking dull and batsmen are looking for ways to score without risk. The 27-year-old has donned the Indian jersey only on three occasions where he has scalped five wickets at an economy of 6.16. Saini will be aiming to cement his spot in the bowling force of Team India alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. 11. Mohammed Shami Mohammed Shami (Photo by Stu Forster-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Mohammed Shami has quickly established himself as the leader of the pack with more than satisfactory performances in white-ball cricket. He was already a dangerous entity in the Test format and had a terrific 2019 World Cup when he was picked over Khaleel Ahmed. Shami got a hat-trick against Afghanistan and most recently, played a big part in India beating Australia 2-1 at home in the ODI series, picking 7 wickets in two matches. He has found a way to get the white ball to move in the air and has used the short ball to perfection, surprising the batsmen and picking wickets easily. His death overs bowling has improved tremendously, with deadly yorkers becoming even more lethal with a fitter Shami running in and bowling them in higher 140kph speeds. He has played in these conditions before and his experience will help both Bumrah and Saini get their things right in swing and seaming conditions.

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India's Predicted Playing XI for the ODI series against New Zealand

The Men in Blue’s fortunes in the 50-over format has been much better against New Zealand, given that they had won 4-1 the last time they toured the country.

5. Manish Pandey

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