India's Playing XI For The First Test Against England (Predicted)

India and England are set to lock horns for a five-match test series in August and this will be a big test to the Indian side that struggled in the ICC World Test Championship finals. New Zealand leapfrogged India in all departments and it never looked like India could make a comeback in the finals.

There has been a lot of criticism over the Indian team selection for the finals in conditions that favor swing bowling and India needed some contributions from the number 9-11 in tough conditions in England. With the places of some of the seniors in the fray, here is India’s predicted playing XI for the first test against England.

India’s Playing XI For The First Test Against England (Predicted):

Shubman Gill:

Shubman Gill will hold his opening slot despite struggling to make a big score in two innings of the World Test Championship finals. He scored a valiant 30 in the first innings, and there was a lot of control over his shots until he was dismissed.

Virat Kohli will certainly be looking to give an extended run in the test tour of England until he makes a big score.

Rohit Sharma:

Rohit Sharma looked the most solid batsman on display for India in the final but he does go for the fancy drives even when it is far away from his corridor and he will be looking to rectify it.

He scored 30 and 34 in the Two innings of the final and he had a solid defensive technique too which was some positive sign. However, he will need a big score to prove his credentials in overseas conditions as an opener.

Cheteshwar Pujara:

Cheteshwar Pujara is unlikely to be dropped for the first test against England but his spot in the side is certainly of bother with the number of low scores he has been scoring.

This could also be the last opportunity for him to regain his form and settle into the side as he has looked far from best despite some handy half-centuries. If he fails to find his feet in the first test, his spot will be up for grabs in the next test certainly.

Virat Kohli (C):

Virat Kohli hasn’t had the best of times in international cricket for the last two to three years and he will be hoping to replicate the series he had in England in 2018 where he kept on piling up runs for India single-handedly.

His century drought is set to end soon and this will be the best opportunity for him too to make a big hundred and silence his critics.

Ajinkya Rahane (VC):

Ajinkya Rahane has been serving as the Indian vice-captain in tests for a long time and the time has come for him to break the barriers he has been going through in the recent three years.

He has contributed with some important knocks in the toughest times for India to hold on to his place in the squad and he was also the highest scorer for India in the finals against New Zealand. He has thrown away his wicket after batting well and he should look to grind out those tough times.

Hanuma Vihari:

Hanuma Vihari has been impressive in the few opportunities he has got with the bat and he was unlucky to have missed out from the playing XI after playing one of the brave knocks in Sydney against Australia to save the test for India.

He deserved a place in the squad for the amount of composure he has shown for India in tough times and he has an excellent technique for the English conditions.

Rishabh Pant (WK):

Rishabh Pant will the X-Factor player for India in the Test series against England and his temperament is always going to be questioned as he prefers to play his natural game.

He might end up throwing away his wicket but he has the ability to win games from improbable situations that make him a match-winner and he should continue as the first choice wicketkeeper option.

Ravichandran Ashwin:

Ravichandran Ashwin should make the playing XI  as the only spinner in the squad for his capability against the left-handers and also being the highest wicket-taking bowler in the ICC World Test Championship.

The off-spinner has been in phenomenal form and will continue to be in the best possible way in the England tour which will be a big test for him.

Mohammad Shami:

Mohammad Shami was the only impressive fast bowler for India in the World Test Championship picking up four wickets in the first innings against New Zealand. His ability to hit the good lengths and his reverse swing capabilities will be handy in the English conditions that offer a lot for the fast bowlers. He needs to be a little bit fuller as he has been on the shorter side against New Zealand.

Ishant Sharma:

The tall fast bowler Ishant Sharma picked up three wickets in the first innings of the ICC World Test Championship finals against New Zealand and he bowled some good overs for India out in the middle.

But he has looked a lot more tiring and his fitness has been on the radar for a long time. He should make the playing XI as he can bowl those inswingers as well as he is the senior-most player in the side.

Mohammad Siraj:

Mohammad Siraj was a name that kept surrounding in the World Test Championship finals as he wasn’t picked in the playing XI despite his excellent form.

Siraj can swing the ball both ways which is a highlight of his game and he should have been picked ahead of Jasprit Bumrah who is better at hitting the lengths. Bumrah has looked out of socks in the last few tests and Siraj should get the nod.