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India and England are currently locked in battle in Chennai, and the visitors seem to be in control on a flat deck.
Both teams have named strong playing XIs, and to make a combined XI from these two teams is a difficult task. With world-class batsmen and fast bowlers on either side, places in the combined XI are spoilt for choice.
India's playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
England's playing XI: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Daniel Lawrence, Joe Root(c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler(w), Dominic Bess, Jofra Archer, Jack Leach, James Anderson
We attempt to name a combined XI from India and England's teams for the 1st Test.
Note: The team has been picked keeping the venue (India) in mind.
Openers: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have batted together only in two Test matches, while Rory Burns and Dom Sibley are England's clear first-choice pair when both are available.
However, the former pair were mightily impressive on the recent tour of Australia, and the team management has clearly expressed that they are going to be backed to the hilt. Rohit and Gill are probably the most aesthetically pleasing opening combination in the world, and have far more sound techniques than their England counterparts.
Burns threw his wicket away with a rash reverse sweep in the first session of the 1st Test, while Dom Sibley seems to be getting stuck in at the moment. Rohit and Gill, who have splendid home records in first-class cricket at home, will be seen in action in the coming days.
Middle Order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Joe Root, Virat Kohli (c), Jos Buttler (wk)
Cheteshwar Pujara will take up his usual No. 3 spot in this combined XI. The gritty batsman put up a resilient showing against Australia recently, and is undoubtedly one of the best Test batsmen in the world. England's No. 3, Dan Lawrence, was dismissed for a duck by Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings of the 1st Test, while Zak Crawley is injured. But in any circumstances, Pujara is an easy choice.
Both Joe Root and Virat Kohli prefer to bat at No. 4, and the former pips the latter to the spot owing to his superb form. Root collected two Man of the Match awards and one Man of the Series award in his last Test series against Sri Lanka, while Kohli hasn't scored a century in over a year.
The captaincy of his team still goes to Kohli, though. He is the most accomplished Indian Test skipper based on win percentage, and his team has had more success both at home and overseas than Root's recently.
The wicket-keeper's slot is a straight toss-up between Jos Buttler and Rishabh Pant.
Both Buttler and Pant went through major lean patches during the most of 2020, but they've stormed back to become their respective team's first option behind the stumps. While Buttler's record in recent series against West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is fantastic, Pant orchestrated the historic win Down Under with counter-attacking knocks.
Buttler is the man who dons the gloves in this India-England combined XI. He is more experienced, a better keeper, and has been in better form over the last few months. Pant is a southpaw and always adds a different dimension to the batting lineup, but that aspect has already been satisfied by the next batsman in this team.
All-rounders: Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin
2019 Ashes and World Cup hero Ben Stokes is the only pace-bowling all-rounder across both sides, and he walks into this XI with ease. The left-hander is one of the most important cogs of England's Test team. Apart from contributing match-winning knocks on a regular basis, he has bowled his heart out in almost every spell.
Following him will be Ravichandran Ashwin, who is India's most potent spin weapon both at home and overseas. The off-spinner has evolved constantly in Test cricket, and has provided breakthroughs at crucial times. He pips his protégé Washington Sundar to this spot in the India-England combined XI.
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, James Anderson, Jack Leach
Jasprit Bumrah and James Anderson make up a pace attack brimming with versatility and experience. India's spearhead and the leading wicket-taker among pacers in Test cricket simply can't be left out, even though there are other excellent options in Jofra Archer and Ishant Sharma.
The final spot in this India-England combined XI is a tough one to choose. But considering the venue, the choices can be narrowed down to Jack Leach and Dom Bess.
Both spinners feasted on the Sri Lankan batsmen last month, but they haven't been as impressive as the England spinners of old. Leach has been slightly better than Bess - he has played more Tests, and he has been more consistent with his lines and lengths.
Leach will also complement Ashwin well in this India-England combined XI. He easily edges out Shahbaz Nadeem to the spot.
