Virat Kohli IN, Ishan Kishan OUT... Here is what Team India's playing XI could look like for first ODI

New Delhi: The first match of the three-game ODI series between India and England is scheduled to be played on July 14 (Tuesday) at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham. With stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ranks, the Indian team looks formidable; however, captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir face a significant challenge in selecting the playing XI. The biggest question revolves around the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar.

Selection headache for Team India? 

Unlike the T20 squad, there isn't as fierce a scramble among players for spots in the ODI team. Nor is there a youngster like Vaibhav Suryavanshi waiting in the wings to break into the playing XI. Nevertheless, Gautam Gambhir faces a dilemma regarding the team combination where a single wrong decision could prove costly for Team India.

What about the batting order? 

The batting order appears largely settled. Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings in the last ODI against Afghanistan, but he is not part of the squad for the England series. Former captain Virat Kohli has returned, and his spot at number 3 is assured; consequently, Ishan Kishan will have to sit out of the playing XI.

Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill are likely to open the innings in this match. Following them, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul will shoulder the responsibility of the middle order. Shreyas and Rahul are among India's most reliable batsmen at the number 4 and number 5 positions, respectively, in ODI cricket. However, Rahul's batting position has seen frequent changes since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach. It will be interesting to see at which position he is fielded against England.