Uthappa Names His India XI for 1st ODI vs England, Leaves Out Pant
The highly anticipated India-England ODI series is just around the corner, and fans are eagerly waiting to see their favorite teams battle it out on the field. In the lead-up to the series, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has weighed in with his opinion on who should make it to the starting XI for the first ODI.
Uthappa, a seasoned campaigner with over 8,000 runs in international cricket, has named a strong-looking India XI that includes some familiar faces and a few surprises. In his list, he has opted for Rohit Sharma as the captain, with Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli forming a formidable batting trio. Shreyas Iyer makes the cut as well, providing some much-needed depth to the middle order.
One of the most interesting decisions Uthappa made was choosing KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper. While Pant has been in impressive form lately, Rahul’s experience and ability to adapt to different conditions might have tipped the scales in his favor. Washington Sundar, who has been in great nick, misses out as a result.
In the bowling department, Uthappa has gone with a mix of experience and youth. Hardik Pandya, who has been an important cog in India’s ODI setup, makes the cut along with Mohammad Shami, who is known for his ability to swing the ball. Arshdeep Singh, who has impressed with his pace and accuracy, also gets a nod, while Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy provide some much-needed spin options.
Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are the two spinners who could make it to the playing XI, depending on the conditions. Uthappa’s decision to opt for either Axar or Jadeja over Sundar suggests that he believes the duo’s all-round abilities could be crucial in the series.
Here’s Uthappa’s full India XI for the first ODI against England:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel/Jadeja
- Mohammad Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakaravarthy
While fans and experts will have their own opinions on Uthappa’s XI, it’s clear that he has put a lot of thought into his selection. With the series just around the corner, it’ll be interesting to see how India’s actual XI shapes up. Will Pant find a way back into the team, or will Rahul’s experience pay off? Will Axar or Jadeja get the nod over Sundar? The wait is almost over, and cricket fans can’t wait to find out.
