India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

High-flying India will be looking to continue their impressive run in One-Day Internationals when they take on New Zealand in the upcoming three-match series. The Men in Blue are yet to lose a series this year under Virat Kohli’s captaincy and will enter the series against Kane Williamson & Co. as the firm favourites.

So here we are taking a look at the playing eleven which India can field in the series-opener on Sunday (October 22):

1. Rohit Sharma:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

Rohit Sharma‘s sizzling form in ODIs since his comeback continued against Australia as he finished the five-match series as the top-scorer. However, he could not transform that form in the subsequent T20 International series and will be keen to get back to his devastating best.

2. Shikhar Dhawan:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

In his absence, Ajinkya Rahane did really well against Australia, scoring four fifties in five-games but given the way the team management has drafted the regular players’ straight into the playing eleven in recent times, Dhawan is more than likely to open the innings in the first game. The southpaw was in brilliant form in the Champions Trophy and in Sri Lanka before he missed the series against Australia due to family issues.

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3. Virat Kohli:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

In an otherwise very productive year with the bat, the India skipper failed to sustain the same form against Australia. He managed just 46 runs in the Test series against the team from Down Under and his struggled continued in the ODI series too. He will be desperate to get back to his best against the Kiwis.

4. Dinesh Karthik:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

With Manish Pandey not quite managing to come up with impressive performances despite being given regular chances and the team management including Dinesh Karthik in the squad for the upcoming series, there is a big possibility that the latter might play the first game. Moreover, Karthik’s form is also good as he recently scored two centuries in the Duleep Trophy.

5. Kedar Jadhav:

 

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

Jadhav managed to come up with handy scores whenever the team needed him against Australia and will be desperate for a strong start to the series against the Kiwis.

6. MS Dhoni:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

After easing the pressure off himself with some performance against Sri Lanka and Australia, the former captain will be eyeing yet another strong series.

7. Hardik Pandya:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

The man of the moment, Pandya continued his meteoric rise in the last ODI series, as he bagged his maiden Man of the Series award for scoring 222 runs in addition to picking up 6 wickets.

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8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

One of the reasons behind the series win against Australia was Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s disciplined bowling. He was hailed by Steve Smith as one of the best death bowlers in the world and will be looking to enhance his reputation against New Zealand.

9. Kuldeep Yadav:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

The chinaman spinner also had a good outing against the team from Down Under as he finished the five-match series as India’s highest wicket-taker, taking 7 wickets including a hat-trick.

10. Yuzvendra Chahal:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

Chahal formed a potent spin-attack with Kuldeep. The leg-spinner not only picked up wickets at crucial junctures but also checked the flow of runs against Steve Smith & Co.

11. Jasprit Bumrah:

India vs New Zealand 2017: India's Predicted Eleven For Series-Opener

Along with Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah was also called as one of the best death bowlers by Smith. He too will be hoping for another strong showing.

 

 

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