India will have a final opportunity to prepare for the Champions Trophy when they face England at home in a three-match ODI series commencing next month. The selection committee is scheduled to convene this weekend to finalize the squad for both the series against England and the Champions Trophy. However, before this crucial meeting, former Indian cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar introduced a new selection dilemma for the committee led by Ajit Agarkar.

In a discussion with Star Sports, the two analysts presented their respective 15-member squads for the upcoming series against England, which is set to begin on February 6. While both experts agreed on the same playing XI, featuring the pressured batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as key components of the batting order, their only divergence lay in the selection of reserve players.

Both Manjrekar and Bangar confidently chose KL Rahul as the primary wicketkeeper, with Sanju Samson designated as the backup, thereby omitting Rishabh Pant, who has participated in only one ODI since his return to competitive cricket in June 2023.

“Pant has been away from the game for an extended period. Although he made a commendable return in T20Is and Tests, he has not demonstrated strong form in ODIs. KL Rahul should be your primary wicketkeeper,” stated the former batting coach of India.

Manjrekar further commented: “I have always been a strong advocate for Samson. While he struggled to score runs initially and may not be ideally suited for the lower order if India requires a powerful hitter for the final ten overs... I concur with Bangar regarding Pant.”

Who will be the middle-order batters?

Bangar and Manjrekar once again concurred on Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul as the primary middle-order batsmen, mirroring India's selection for the 2023 ODI World Cup.

"I have firmly established Iyer and KL Rahul as my No. 4 and 5. Iyer delivered an outstanding performance during the World Cup, and Rahul's wicketkeeping was exceptional. He is also well-suited for the No. 5 position due to his skill against spin," Bangar stated.

Conversely, Manjrekar hinted at the potential inclusion of Sarfaraz Khan and Tilak Verma as middle-order alternatives, while dismissing the idea of considering Suryakumar Yadav for this role. He ultimately designated the Mumbai player as a backup.

"I would like to propose an unconventional choice by suggesting Sarfaraz Khan. He is a formidable player and embodies the qualities of an ideal ODI batsman. I would place Shreyas Iyer at No. 4. I prefer to move away from Suryakumar Yadav, reserving him for T20Is as a specialist. I would not oppose the idea of Tilak Verma at No. 5," he remarked.

The seasoned Indian batsman also raised the question of whether Dhruv Jurel could be viewed as a backup wicketkeeper, as he believed the young player possessed the capability to bat at No. 5 for India in ODIs.

"Is it not possible to consider Dhruv Jurel? He has the temperament for Test cricket. In the event of a top-order collapse, we require someone who can stabilize the innings at No. 5. I am merely exploring options, but Rahul remains the preferred choice."

Sanjay Manjrekar has selected the following India XI for the ODI series against England: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami.

The reserve players include Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sarfaraz Khan.

Similarly, Sanjay Bangar's India XI for the ODI series against England comprises: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami.

The reserves for this selection are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sanju Samson.

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