Form, combination and fringe rewards - India's warm-up priorities

Ever since Mahendra Singh Dhoni's sudden decision to hand over limited-overs captaincy to Virat Kohli came about, there's been a raging sense of expectation from the masses to watch the once-carefree batsman revert to default mode. The unimaginable pressures of leading India across formats through various ups and downs - more the former - has definitely contributed in adding wisdom to his game, and the greys to his beard. The Dhoni of the long, straight and brown-dyed hair seems almost from a different era. And yet, the expectation has somehow returned, in what could be the start of the epilogue of a colossal career.

The removal of captaincy burden might just trigger a change of approach in his batting, but the bigger question that lies ahead for the Indian side pertains to where he fits in the batting line-up. If his recent pulse is to be taken into consideration, Dhoni has his eyes set on the No. 4 spot, but the allotment of such a critical batting slot cannot be done without considering the crux of the middle-order and the need for balance.

The first warm-up fixture, where he will lead the team, provides an opportunity for him to push his case as far as batting order preference is concerned and leave the tougher task of making the decision to his successor. The sample size for India's decision-making is just one 50-over game, but if it can lend enough support to a certain idea from the think-tank, it would've served a purpose. While Dhoni auditions for the no.4 position, a keen eye will also be kept on Yuvraj Singh.

On the back of strong Ranji Trophy performances, most notably a 177 in Lahli where batsmen seldom enjoy life, he has earned the trust of the selectors once again, even if it is for a different format. The answer to the Dhoni question will have a ripple effect, one way or another, on Yuvraj's position in the line-up - a massive headache that Kohli begins his ODI captaincy tenure with.

For the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya, Tuesday's game is a test of their fitness levels. The left-handed opener has already featured in three Ranji Trophy matches since recovering from a left thumb fracture. A good outing against England will be a step closer to a successful return. Pandya nearly had the chance to cap off a sensational 2016 with a Test debut, but a shoulder injury came in the way. With more than two months to recover, the all-rounder is back in the mix. His form and fitness levels will also be dear to India, given his propensity to swing the ball first up, and the bat lower down the order.

The spotlight will also shine on Ajinkya Rahane when he leads the A side in the second warm-up match on Thursday (January 12). Rahane's Test career has seen a steady graph over the years, but his limited-overs chart has witnessed constant wavering. After ordinary returns in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, Rahane's fight is to latch onto the spot at the top of the order. With Dhawan and KL Rahul fit again, Rahane's battle is rather uphill. A big knock on Thursday could cut him some slack.

T20I trials and the fringe rewards

Suresh Raina also finds himself in a flimsy position. The 30-year-old had earned a recall to the Indian side for the New Zealand ODIs in October 2016, 12 months since he had last played 50-overs cricket, but was resigned to the sidelines owing to illness. He recovered and made a swift comeback in Uttar Pradesh's 220-run win over Railways, recording identical scores of 91 across two innings but hasn't been given the chance to fit into a congested middle-order in the ODIs. The lifeline extended to him is in T20Is, a format he is better-equipped in. He too could benefit from a notable performance on Thursday.

The first game on Tuesday will also serve as an indicator of Ashish Nehra's fitness. The 37-year-old resurrected his international career last year, albeit in T20Is, and his form and intensity over a 10-over spell will go a long way in aiding his selection during the T20I series. Rishabh Pant, Mandeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal also have opportunities to turn heads during the A games.

The Indian cricket board has also picked domestic circuit performers like Shahbaz Nadeem, Vinay Kumar Parvez Rasool and Ashoke Dinda, to name a few, for the two matches, perhaps as a token of appreciation, and to send across a message that they're on the fringes of the national side. The likes of Ishan Kishan, Sheldon Jackson and even Sanju Samson, whose ordinary domestic season was marred by controversy, have also been handed what appears to be a vote of confidence.

India A team for 1st warm-up tie: Shikhar Dhawan, Mandeep Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (Captain), Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ashish Nehra, Mohit Sharma, Siddarth Kaul

India A team for 2nd warm-up tie: Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Suresh Raina, Deepak Hooda, Ishan Kishan, Sheldon Jackson, Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem, Parvez Rasool, Vinay Kumar, Pradeep Sangwan, Ashoke Dinda