India is set to play against England in the 5-match Test series starting with the first fixture at Trent Bridge Cricket Stadium.
After losing the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, India’s premier players have been enjoying their time in the English country waiting for the Test series to commence against the host nation.
Fuelled by missing out on another ICC honor, the Virat Kohli-led side is expected to give their best in the upcoming test series. They have hit a few roadblocks though as Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Avesh Khan were injured in the warm-up 3-day test match whilst Mayank Agarwal suffered a concussion a couple of days ago ruling him out of the first Test.
After defeating Australia 2-1 in their own den with an injury-hit squad and beating England 3-1 earlier this year, Ravi Shastri’s men will be high on confidence going up against an England team missing two of their key players in Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.
Let’s have a look at the contingent available to Kohli and Shastri to pick a playing XI for the first Test match in Nottinghamshire.
Squad: Virat Kohli ©, Ajinka Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul. Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
Here, we will look at the possible Indian XI that might step out on the field on Wednesday with a chance to take an early lead in a 5-Test series.
Top Order: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara
Pujara and Sharma building a partnership against Australia
Indian white-ball opening pair of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul might be paired in the red-ball match to face two of the best new-ball bowlers in James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
With both Gill and Agarwal ruled out of the first fixture, Hanuma Vihari and Abhimanyu Easwaran are a couple of outfield options whilst the in-form KL Rahul could be the preferred call at the top of the Indian batting order.
Sharma has established a place for himself in the Indian Test team over the last two years while Rahul scored a century in the 3-day practice match and looks in good touch ahead of the series.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s place in the team is under the microscope but the experienced batsman has been backed by the team management to come good at No.3 for the ‘Men in Blue’.
Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin
(From L to R) Rahane, Kohli, and Ashwin
Virat Kohli has not scored a century in international cricket in the last 20 months and the Indian fans would be desperate to witness their skipper roar with his helmet off at Trent Bridge. The 32-year old would be determined to score runs in the English nation after overcoming his problems of playing the ball on the sixth stump.
India’s vice-captain in the multi-day format, Ajinkya Rahane was the top-scorer for his nation in the 2019-21 World Test Championship Cycle and the 33-year old would be eyeing the same honor in the new WTC cycle starting on Wednesday.
Rishabh Pant has established himself as the first-choice wicket-keeper batsman across all formats and the explosive batsman would be looking to play to his strengths in the upcoming series.
Ravindra Jadeja is one of the best all-rounders in world cricket but if India has to go with one spinner at Trent Bridge, Ravichandran Ashwin is the deserved owner of that spot in the playing XI. Ashwin took the most number of wickets in the last WTC cycle and the off-spinner can come in handy with the bat as well on tricky pitches.
Lower Order: Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
(From L to R) Bumrah, Shami, and Sharma
Over the last few years, India has developed a great squad depth in the seam department with multiple fast bowlers providing match-winning performances during the course of the World Test Championship.
Shardul Thakur’s presence in the playing XI would give Kohli an extra option with the new ball whilst the 29-year old’s exploits with the bat down under would give the ‘Men in Blue’ some assurance over their No.8 batsman.
The seam trio of Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah was preferred in the World Test Championship final and Kohli could go with the same trio at Trent Bridge. Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav are in great form and could be seen with the red cherry in their hands later in the series.