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Yashasvi Jaiswal And...? Rohit Sharma Likely To Drop These Players For IND vs ENG 1st ODI

Debashis Sarangi

Gill will likely be preferred over Jaiswal for 1st ODI [Source: @JYajashvi/X]Gill will likely be preferred over Jaiswal for 1st ODI [Source: @JYajashvi/X]

After securing an emphatic 4-1 victory in the T20 International series, India are gearing up to face England in the three-match ODI leg, which will be their final dress rehearsal for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue will face the Englishmen in the series opener at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on February 6. 

India have a formidable squad for the series; however, there are several players who could be excluded from their playing XI for the first ODI, as mentioned below. 

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal

  • India's promising opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was rewarded with an ODI call-up for the three-match series against England. In 32 List-A innings, Jaiswal has struck 1511 runs at an average of 53.96 and a strike rate of 86.19. 
  • Although Jaiswal is in sublime form, India will likely prefer Shubman Gill for the second opening slot, considering the latter's exceptional performance in ODI cricket. Gill has been India's most prolific ODI batter since January 2020, amassing 2312 runs at a superb average of 60.84 and a strike rate of 102.48. 
  • Therefore, it will be unfair on Gill if India's Rohit Sharma-led think tank decide to prefer Jaiswal over him based on the southpaw's red-hot recent form. So, in all likelihood, Gill will open the batting with Rohit and Jaiswal will warm the bench, at least in the first ODI. 

2. Rishabh Pant

  • Swashbuckling Indian batter Rishabh Pant made his much-awaited ODI comeback last year after surviving a potentially hazardous car accident. However, the keeper-batter could manage only six runs, as India lost the game against Sri Lanka by 110 runs. 
  • Rishabh Pant hasn't had an outstanding ODI career, averaging just 33.5 after 27 innings. On the other hand, his competitor Shreyas Iyer has been a regular face in the Indian ODI team, amassing 2421 runs at an average of 47.5 and a strike rate of 101.2 Iyer was incredible in the ODI World Cup and India will likely allot him the number four slot as they prepare for the Champions Trophy. 
  • Also, given that KL Rahul will keep wickets, India won't likely pick two keeper-batters, choosing Iyer's batting expertise instead. 

3. Harshit Rana

  • Harshit Rana earned a call-up into the Indian team following his exploits for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. The right-arm speedster has played 14 List-A matches, scalping 22 wickets at an average of 23.45 and a strike rate of 25.3. 
  • However, despite his impressive numbers in List-A cricket, Rana might not be able to find a place in India's playing XI for the first ODI against England. While Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami will likely be preferred for their experience and superior bowling skills, India might consider playing both Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel in order to ensure batting depth without compromising with their bowling quality. 
  • In such a scenario, if the hosts go with three all-rounders- Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja- Rana will be the frontrunner to sit out.