England vs India, 2018: 1st Test - India's Predicted XI

Team India will look to start the much anticipated five-match Test series against England on a high when both nations clash against each other starting from August 1 at Edgbaston.

Meanwhile, India have last tasted success on the English soil in 2007 when Rahul Dravid led-side won the three-match Test series 1-0. Since then, the visitor’s have struggled to win series as they lost 4-0 and 3-1 on their last two tours.

However, a confident Virat Kohli & Co will be keen to improve their statistics in the upcoming series. After winning nine series in a row, India’s winning run came to a halt in January 2018 with a 1-2 series loss in South Africa. After losing first two games by 72 and 135 runs respectively, Indians bounced back in the final test to win by 63 runs.

The seam bowlers did an exceptional job bagging 60 wickets from that tour. However, they will miss Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the first three games while Jasprit Bumrah will miss the first Test. The onus now will be on Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav to lead the pace battery. The selectors have also picked young Kuldeep Yadav riding on his limited-overs performances.

On the batting front, India will want all their batters to come good in the upcoming 25 days of cricket. Especially, India skipper Virat Kohli will be desperate to overhaul his poor record in England. So much so, he wanted to play County cricket in a bid to acclimatise to this condition. However, an untimely shoulder injury ruled him out of the County stint.

However, India will look to opt a tradition playing XI going in with only seamer and three pacers with Hardik Pandya doing the work of a fourth fast bowler. Moreover, KL Rahul is likely to get a nod over Shikhar Dhawan after he failed in both essays of the warm-up game.

Here is the predicted XI of Team India for the first Test:

MURALI VIJAY

The batsman from Tamil Nadu, Murali Vijay has good statistics to back his abilities in overseas conditions. He has made this opening slot his own, scoring runs in almost all conditions.

Indian team management will bank on him to provide his team with a solid start.

KL RAHUL

KL Rahul is certainly in the form of his life and has been applauded by one and all. However, he needs to score runs to cement his spot in the first XI.

Shikhar Dhawan will breathe on his shoulders to get back his position. However, Rahul has the credibility to score runs in challenging conditions and will have to make a mark for himself.

CHETESHWAR PUJARA

The form of Cheteshwar Pujara will be key to India’s success in this much-anticipated tour. However, Pujara has struggled in the County Cricket for Yorkshire. Moreover, he failed in the warm-up game against Essex.

Meanwhile, a lot has been said about his spot in the playing XI but he will certainly make it to Edgbaston.

VIRAT KOHLI (C)

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli will be desperate to start the series on a high. He will keen to improve his statistics from the last time he visited England. Kohli wanted to play some County cricket in a bid to prepare for this series, however, had to drop it owing to a shoulder injury.

But Virat Kohli had a good outing in the practise game against Essex and will be raring to go.

AJINKYA RAHANE

The key to India’s success in the middle-order lies on vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Rahane has an impeccable record in challenging conditions and will have to step up once again if India needs to continue their dominant run.

Ajinkya Rahane will also be eager to score some runs and contribute to team’s success.

DINESH KARTHIK (WK)

It will be a huge opportunity for Dinesh Karthik to seal his berth in the Test side. He replaced Wriddhiman Saha in the squad who is nursing a shoulder injury.

Karthik, who returned to the Test squad after a span of eight years, barely managed to make an impact. The upcoming series will be his last opportunity to present his case to the national selectors.

HARDIK PANDYA

Hardik Pandya will have the important role to bring a balance to the side. He will be the fourth seam bowling option and will have to provide support to the fast bowlers.

Moreover, he will also have to give support to the batsmen if the team loses some early wickets.

RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN

A lot has been said about Kuldeep Yadav getting a nod ahead in the first Test. However, it is unlikely considering the vast experience Ravichandran Ashwin posses. The team management will not try to risk in the first Test of the series.

Moreover, Ashwin knows these conditions pretty well and will slot into the XI as the lone spinner.

ISHANT SHARMA

Ishant Sharma will have to lead this bowling attack in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The tall and lanky fast bowler has a lot of experiences behind his back and knows these conditions better.

Sharma had a good outing in the warm-up game and will be keen to make an immediate mark.

MOHAMMED SHAMI

Mohammed Shami makes a come back to the Test squad after missing the Afghanistan Test as he struggled to clear the Yo-Yo test. Although Shami remained wicketless against Essex, his ability to swing the ball both ways makes him an obvious choice.

Furthermore, he is a handy customer when the red cherry reverses a bit and is capable of providing major breakthroughs.

UMESH YADAV

Umesh Yadav had a good practise game returning with four wickets, the highest among Indian bowlers. Yadav is fast and can hurry batsmen but he will have to keep a check on his line and length.

Yadav on a given day can single-handedly rattle any batting order.