Agencies, Rajkot
Team India, having lost ODI series to Pakistan 1-2, need to pull up socks and face challenge when they take on England in first of the five One-Day International series at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here tomorrow, said India ODI captain Mahendrasinh Dhoni.
“We got off to a very good start but due to lack of strong partnership between batsmen lost against Pakistan during ODI series. Now, Team have to do good here to take on challenge against England,” he said today while addressing mediapersons at the venue this noon.
Here, the condition is different, he said and expressed hope that Team would do better with the experienced and young players.
Dhoni added that Team have to stay focus and to make good score in tomorrow’s match.
India, after a 2-1 defeat against Pakistan, are desperately in need of victory to inspire them into what promises to be a long and difficult year.
In all regards this is an important series, despite what the critics may say about lengthy bilateral ODI contests, because both India and England have points to prove.
Cheteswhar Pujara, a local lad who hit triple century here in ongoing Ranji quarter-final match against Karnataka and if included in the eleven, would have chance to prove his ability in the shorter form of the game.
Meanwhile, England, led by victorious Test captain Alastair Cook,have young and inexperienced players in the Team. Without their key bowlers like James Anderson, Stuart Board and Graeme Swann, England are relying on Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn, Chris Woakes, and James Tredwell.
England will be looking to correct their poor one-day record in India when they face India here tomorrow.
India (probable): Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, M S Dhoni (c&wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shami Ahmed.
England (probable): Alastair Cook (c), Joe Root, Ian Bell, Samit Patel, Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Tim Bresnan, Chris Woakes, James Tredwell, Stuart Meakar, Eoin Morgan, Jade Dernbach,Steven Finn.
Steve Davis and S Ravi will be umpires, while Vineet Kulkarni and Andy Pycroft will be Third umpire and Match referee, respectively.
