England vs India 2018: 3 problems India might face in the ODI series

India started their England tour perfectly as they won the 3-match T20I series 2-1. The team with the better bowling attack won the series. Now, India will be looking forward to the ODI series and will be positive considering that they have won the T20I series.

England are currently the No.1 ODI side and whitewashed Australia 5-0 in their last one-day series. This England team are good at making comebacks and will be determined to do well in the ODIs after a disappointing T20I series.

Both the teams have a similar looking squad for the ODIs. For India, youngsters Chahar and Krunal make way for Shardul and Axar whereas Shreyas Iyer replaces Manish Pandey from the T20I squad. For England, Chris Jordan will make way for Mark Wood. Even though India will be confident, there are a few problems which might trouble them during the ODI series. Let’s have a look at 3 of them:

#3 No extra bowling option

If Raina doesn't make the playing XI India don't have an extra bowling option

When Ambati Rayudu was in the squad there were no batsmen who could bowl some part-time overs. Now with the inclusion of Suresh Raina India do have the option of a part-time bowler, but will he make the playing XI?

Other than Raina, nobody in the squad can bowl the extra overs. India currently play with only 5 bowlers as we saw in the T20I series. But it is a different ball game in ODIs as each bowler has to bowl 10 overs and not only 4! What if a bowler has a bad day? India have no other option to go to.

They are forced to play Raina due to this issue and that’s why a player like Dinesh Karthik who is in great form has to sit out. If India drop Raina and play Karthik then they are left with only 5 bowlers which will be a big risk considering their fifth bowler is an all-rounder. India will have to get their team balance right if they want to defeat the No.1 ODI side and that’s why this problem is slotted in at No.3 in this list.

#2 The fitness of Fast Bowlers

The fitness of these two bowlers is extremely important

India’s best white-ball bowler – Jasprit Bumrah has already been ruled out of the ODI series. Even Bhuvneshwar Kumar missed the last T20I due to a back injury. He missed quite a few IPL matches due to injury as well.

It is important for India that they keep their fast bowlers fit considering that they have to play a 5 match Test series after this. To keep Bhuvi fit India might have to rest him for one or two ODIs. Then they might have to turn to relatively inexperienced bowlers like Thakur and Kaul.

Umesh Yadav will also be part of the Test squad and hence his fitness is also important. He has been playing continuously since the start of the IPL and keeping him fit will be a challenge. Due to these issues, India might fall back on inexperienced fast bowlers which can be a problem for them in the ODI series.

#1 The No. 4 Conundrum

Rahul or Kohli - Who will solve the No.4 problem?

Since the 2015 World Cup, India haven’t had a fixed No.4 for two consecutive series. Every time a new series starts, the first question in all pre-shows is who is going to bat at No.4?

India have tried more than half a dozen players in the No.4 position after the 2015 World Cup which is far too many for any position. Interestingly, Ajinkya Rahane, who was the No.4 for the South Africa ODI series, hasn't even made the squad this time. So India will have a different player batting at No.4.

India have a lot of middle-order batsmen in the squad which includes Iyer, Raina and Dinesh Karthik. But looking at the recently concluded T20I series the most obvious choice at No.4 would be Virat Kohli. But should Kohli leave his No.3 spot in the ODI format where he scores hundreds for fun? The answer is unclear.

There is a possibility that Rahul might be pushed down the order and he might bat at No.4. India have less than a year to fix the No.4 issue ahead of the World Cup and they will be hoping that it is done in this series.