India vs England India Playing XI vs England (Predicted)- 5th Test, IND tour of ENG 2022

India vs England India Playing XI vs England (Predicted)- 5th Test, IND tour of ENG 2022. India came back strongly from a 99-run deficit to win the 4th Test match comfortably by massive 151 runs last time these two teams met in September 2021 for the fourth Test match. The Indian team was all over England and looked all set to win the Test series in English conditions, but the last Test was rescheduled due to Covid-19 with India leading the series 2-1.

A lot has changed from that Test with new captains in charge for both teams. England has found new energy and enthusiasm with Brendon McCullum- Ben Stokes duo that steered them to a scintillating 3-1 series win over New Zealand. India on the other hand has made a few changes to their batting line-up and is looking to find their best possible XI that could give them the balance and depth here.

India`s batting line-up has a couple of puzzles to solve in their selection and skipper Rohit Sharma’s availability after he tested Covid-19 positive further causes concern to the visitors. Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer are the sure-shot players in the XI with Cheteshwar Pujara expected to get the nod ahead at No.3. The likes of Hanuma Vihari, Mayank Agarwal, or KS Bharat might slot in at the top if Rohit Sharma is unavailable.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are expected to lead the Indian pace attack with Shardul Thakur expected to slot in as the pace all-rounder. Mohammed Siraj might slightly pip Umesh Yadav for the third seamer’s spot in this match. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin will be in a tussle for the spinner’s slot and the former might get a nod in owing to his superior batting skills.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is reportedly ruled out of the fifth and final rescheduled Test match against England beginning on 1 July 2022 (Friday) at the Edgbaston in Birmingham. Just a few days back, Rohit Sharma tested positive for COVID-19 during the warm-up Test match against Leicestershire and was placed into strict isolation. India has a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series against England.

It is also understood that right-arm speedster Jasprit Bumrah will captain the Indian Test side against England in the absence of Rohit Sharma. This is the first time in 35 years that a fast bowler will lead the Indian Test team after former legendary cricketer Kapil Dev.

If India clinches a win or manages a draw in this Test, then this would be the fourth time where the Asian side will win a Test series in England. The side has won a Test series in England in 1971, 1986, and 2007 before this.

India vs England India Playing XI vs England (Predicted)- 5th Test, IND tour of ENG 2022

Shubman Gill

In KL Rahul’s absence, young Shubman Gill looks set to open the innings. Shubman Gill was part of Gujarat Titans’ (GT) title-winning campaign in the IPL recently. However, he last featured in a Test match during New Zealand’s tour of India in November-December 2021. He made decent contributions of 52, 44, and 47 in three of the four innings.

Cheteshwar Pujara

After scoring 720 runs in 8 innings (5 games) of the county championship with an average of 120, Cheteshwar  Pujara made selectors look at him and give him a call back to the national team for the remaining Test match against England. Cheteshwar Pujara also played very well in this inconclusive Test series.

The 34-year-old senior batter scored 227 runs in four matches against hosts England last year with an average of 32.43, hitting 2 half-centuries. He may be the makeshift opener in Rohit Sharma’s absence. Mayank Agarwal is another contender for the opening slot but is most unlikely since he arrived later. KS Bharat or Hanuma Vihari is also in line to replace Rohit Sharma.

Virat Kohli

Nobody is unacquainted with Virat Kohli’s excellent Test career so far in which he has played 101 Test matches. Appearing in 171 innings of these 101 matches, he has scored 8043 runs with a batting average of 55.7 adding 27 centuries and 28 half-centuries to his name.

In the first half of this very Test series against England, Virat Kohli appeared in 7 innings of 4 matches and has scored 218 runs with an average of 31.14 hitting 2 half-centuries.

Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari has a half-century (56) to his name in the sole game that he played during India’s tour of England back in 2018. Hanuma Vihari has been handed the various roles in the middle-order recently and he averages 41.33, 28.33, and 45.92 at numbers 3, 4, and 5 respectively. There is a high likelihood that he might be asked to bat at one-down if Cheteshwar Pujara plays as an opener.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer made his Test debut in the home series against New Zealand last year in November. Since then, he has played 4 Test matches for India and delivered some stellar performances in this period.

Since his debut, the middle-order batter appeared in 7 innings of 4 Tests he played and has scored 388 runs with an excellent batting average of 55.43 hitting one century in his debut match followed by 3 half-centuries. If selected, it will also be his first Test appearance for India away from home.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant has so far played 30 matches, appearing in 51 innings of these matches, he has scored 1920 runs with an appreciable average of 40.85 hitting 4 centuries and 9 half-centuries. He has also improved his wicketkeeping skills with the time which was the reason for the criticism he was facing.

Apart from this, if one looks at his performance in the first half of this Test series against England then it is not so impressive, last year he managed to score only 146 runs in 7 innings of 4 Tests with an average of 20.86 having only one half-century to his name.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin, the off spinner made his Test debut in 2011 under the leadership of former Indian skipper MS Dhoni against West Indies in Delhi Test. Since then, he has amazed everyone with his all-around performances in the longest format of the game.

Appearing in 162 innings of 86 matches, Ashwin has scalped 442 wickets with a good bowling average of 24.13 and an economy rate of 2.77. He has claimed five-wicket hauls 30 times in his Test career. Notably, he didn’t get a chance to appear in either of the four Tests of this series India played last year against England under Virat Kohli’s captaincy.

Shardul Thakur

In the previous England tour in 2021, pacer all-rounder Shardul Thakur scored 117 runs in two Test matches, at an average of 39. He also did well with the ball, taking seven wickets in two games.

The medium-pacer scored two half-centuries at an average of 39 in a couple of Tests in England last year. He also picked seven wickets with an average of 22. India will rely on his tendency to score key runs lower down the order if the famed batting lineup on paper fails to perform.

Mohammed Shami

Appearing for bowling in 112 innings of 59 Test matches, Mohammed Shami has scalped 214 wickets with a bowling average of 27.05 and an economy rate of 3.28.

He got a chance to play for India in three Tests against England last year in this series. Bowling in five innings of these matches, Mohammed Shami managed to claim 11 wickets with a bowling average of 27.55 and an economy rate of 3.13.

Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj was one of the bowling heroes during India’s Test series in England in 2021. It was his fiery spell that bowled India to victory at Lord’s. He has been a bit below par in recent times.

India will have to make a choice among Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Umesh Yadav for the role of the third frontline pacer. Mohammed Siraj had taken 14 wickets in four games in England in 2021 and the think-tank might back him to get back to his best in this match as well.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah played his first international Test match for India against South Africa 4 years back in 2018 at Capetown. Since then, he has been unstoppable and unplayable to the batters in Test cricket with his amazing skills and bowling techniques.

Jasprit Bumrah has got a chance to bowl in 56 innings of these 29 matches he played. Playing more than 70% of his Test career matches away from home, the lad has scalped 123 wickets with an appreciable average of 21.73 and an economy rate of 2.65. He has claimed 8 five-wicket hauls in his career so far.

Even in the first half of this very Test series against England, Jasprit Bumrah impressed everyone with his amazing bowling performance. Appearing in 4 Test matches against England last year, he has 18 wickets to his name with an average of just 20.83 and an economy rate of 2.48 runs per over.