SL vs IND 1st ODI, Rahul or Pant? India Playing 11 Prediction, Full Squad and More

SL vs IND 1st ODI: After the completion of the the T20I series, India and Sri Lanka are set to face off in an ODI series starting 2nd August. A big dilemma for India ahead of the ODI series would be around the wicketkeeper?s role and here, in this post, we will analyze and predict the India Playing 11 with full squad and more details of the SL vs IND 1st ODI.

India, under the leadership of Surya Kumar Yadav and the watchful eyes of newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, whitewashed the home side in the three-match T20I series but the Sri Lanka Tour is not finished yet. India and Sri Lanka are set to engage in an ODI series starting today.

The new ODI setup of the Indian Cricket team under the new head coach is likely to feature the veteran and trusted faces once again. With the skipper Rohit Sharma back on the side, familiar names like Kuldeep Yadav, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer are back as well.

The squad announced for the tour appears well-balanced, with clearly defined roles for each player. However, the primary question for India concerns the wicketkeeper position. KL Rahul has performed admirably in Rishabh Pant's absence, raising speculation about the final selection for this critical role.

Let's take a look at the India Playing 11 Prediction and Full Squad for SL vs IND 1st ODI:

SL vs IND 1st ODI: INDIA Squad

Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Harshit Rana

India Playing 11 Prediction For SL vs IND 1st ODI

The skipper Rohit Sharma will be back to the opening position and most probably he will be accompanied by Shubman Gill. This opening duo has been the key to success for India in the ODIs for a while now.

Virat Kohli at 3 gives free hands to the openers as the right-handed batsman is the backbone of the top and middle order of the Indian batting. Shreyas Iyer is back in the side and he will be holding his 4th number back.

Now, a big decision for skipper Rohit and coach Gambhir will be for selection of a wicketkeeper. Many are speculating that KL Rahul will get the chance as Gambhir has previously mentioned the focus of Rishabh Pant should be more towards red-ball cricket if he isn't performing in white ball.

But it is more on the captain as what is more required for the team. Don't leave Rishabh out of the race as he was preferred over Sanju and others in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. One more thing to the favor of Pant is that he is a left-hander and a left-handed batter in the middle order gives to more variety and strength.

Shivam Dube and Axar Patel would be the two all-rounders in the lower order to finish the game. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj are also certainly playing in the starting 11. Now, the fight is for the two spots and it seems like Harshit Rana will receive his international cap for the first time.

Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh are our two final picks for the 10th and 11th spots. This bowling looks threatening and India have a good chance to sweep the ODI series as well.

India Playing 11 (Predicted)

Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul/Rishabh Pant
Shivam Dube
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Arshdeep Singh
Mohammed Siraj
Harshit Rana

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