Is there a clear view of India's team combination for ICC Champions Trophy?

After a long wait, the ODI season returned for India with the England series. Scheduled right ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, the India vs England series carries considerable significance. India has played only one series since the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, a three-match assignment in Sri Lanka in August 2024. With the 50-over format being ranked lower in their priorities lately, the ongoing India vs England series provides the only chance for the side to regroup and find their best plan of attack for the Champions Trophy. Thus, eyes were glued to the screens to find India's combination for the first ODI in Nagpur. The match, in turn, went fairly in favor of the hosts. However, despite the likeable result, the team that played in Nagpur doesn't paint a clear picture of how India wants to go about their Champions Trophy campaign.

When the team last played a 50-over format, the 2023 World Cup, a stable team emerged with the young Shubman Gill firing up the order with skipper Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli was fixed at No.3, while Shreyas Iyer carved a place of his own in the middle order with an exceptional run in the marquee tournament. Moreover, with Rishabh Pant injured, KL Rahul claimed the wicket-keeping position all to himself. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami did the heavy lifting in the bowling department. A lot has changed since then, but a significant majority remains the same for India.

India's plan for the ICC Champions Trophy still unclear following the first India vs England ODI

With the onset of the new season, India had some tangles to sort through in order to find what works for them. Yashasvi Jaiswal marked a remarkable run in the other formats, demanding a deserving call-up to ODIs as well. Moreover, Rishabh Pant made a swift recovery to stage his comeback in the game well ahead of the ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy. Pant's return raised the question of whether Rahul stays or Pant earns the favor. In the bowling department, Bumrah's injury glared at the management, asking for a backup plan. Moreover, with Shami returning to the international scene after an injury-marred, year-long hiatus, the pace attack is a burning issue to handle ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Another significant point of contention lay in the batting order, which has multiple right-handed prospects. The top order with Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli is entirely one-dimensional for the team. Moreover, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul in the middle keep the combination the same, with the team throwing no variation at the opposition. This is where a puddle appears now that the management has the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant available. Ahead of the first India vs England ODI, the tussle between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant bore remarkable weight as the masses gauged whether India counts on KL or opts to add variation in the batting order with Rishabh Pant.

However, the combination that India came up with in the first ODI staged a shock, only made more confusing by the injury-marred absence of Virat Kohli. With Kohli injured, Yashasvi Jaiswal earned his ODI debut as he opened with skipper Rohit Sharma. Moreover, Jaiswal's selection at the top meant Shubman Gill had to bat at number 3, unlike his usual opening position in the format. Additionally, Shreyas Iyer batted in the middle, with the team keeping their belief intact in KL Rahul. However, to count on a left-right combination, all-rounder Axar Patel was promoted in the order as he came ahead of Rahul in the chase.

Left-right combination, Kohli's return, a lot remains unanswered for India ahead of ICC Champions Trophy

With Shubman Gill anchoring the innings and Shreyas Iyer firing a swift, eye-pleasing half-century, India completed the 248-run chase in the 39th over with 4 wickets remaining. However, confusion remains over their next plans in the format. What happens when Kohli returns to the Playing XI, as confirmed by vice-captain Shubman Gill ahead of the second India vs England ODI? The plans appeared even murkier when Shreyas Iyer revealed that his place in the Playing XI shaped up when Kohli was ruled out due to injury.

Now, the question remains: who will make way for Virat Kohli in the team? Letting go of Jaiswal, who made 15 off 22 on his debut, means Gill will return to the opening spot and Kohli to No. 3. However, to go by Iyer's statement, it seems like the management was looking to demote either Kohli or Gill to number 4 to accommodate Jaiswal in the opening spot. Moreover, the shuffle would have axed Iyer's place in the team despite his impressive run in the middle in ODIs. However, now that Iyer has justified his selection, India could keep him in the combination, meaning Jaiswal's exit.

In the middle, if Axar keeps up at his promoted position, then the management looks focused on backing KL Rahul in the Playing XI over Rishabh Pant. Axar ahead and then Jadeja later in the order provide the left-right combination if the team looks to bank on the variation. Another aspersion cast on India's selection choices ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy is the selection of Harshit Rana. The pacer made his debut in the first India vs England ODI, with Arshdeep Singh benched. With Jasprit Bumrah doubtful for the ICC Champions Trophy and Shami on a returning row, India opted for Arshdeep over Mohammed Siraj for the Champions Trophy. However, if the management is counting on the left-arm pacer for the ICC tournament, then why did Rana play ahead of him in the match against England?