Eng vs Ind 1st Test: 4 expected changes for India from the last playing XI vs Afghanistan

As the Indian team is gearing up for the upcoming 5-match Test series (Pataudi Trophy 2018) against England, the home team will look upon to avenge the 4-0 (5-match series) drubbing handed by the no.1 team back in 2016.

In the last 10 matches played by India in England, they have managed to win only one (Lord's test, 2014) out of it. Virat Kohli and his men will be eager to change the fortunes and fight back against the woes faced in the previous tours.

With the first test beginning on 1 Aug 2018, the Indian team are scheduled to play a 3-day practice match against Essex, starting on 25 July 2018. The selection committee picked up an 18-man squad, which is jam-packed with pace attack despite the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar due to an injury.

The Indian team management will have a cautious approach in selecting the best playing XI, considering their hasty decisions made during the South Africa tour.

Though India won their previous outing in Tests by a convincing margin (won by an innings and 262 runs), it came against a weaker opposition (Afghanistan) without their incumbent captain (Virat Kohli).

So, let's have a look at probable changes from the playing XI, which played against Afghanistan in their historic inauguration Test:

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#4. Virat Kohli in for Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan has a poor overseas record against top test playing nations

Virat Kohli will be itching to get on the field and score a century in England (which he deserves too) to make amends for his forgettable tour (134 runs in 10 innings) to England in 2014.

The Indian captain will be an obvious inclusion into the side as he missed out on the historic Test due to a neck injury. With India having a settled top order, Shikhar might be benched for the first test in Birmingham.

Dhawan had a lean patch during the previous overseas tours to South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. As Murali Vijay and KL Rahul are believed to have the set of skills to survive at the test level as an openers, the chances of him getting into the playing XI is less.

#3. Mohammed Shami in for Hardik Pandya

A fit Mohammed Shami will be a boost for the Indian team

Mohammed Shami was the leading wicket-taker of the series in India's tour of South Africa. Shami picked up 15 crucial wickets in 3 matches. His 5-wicket haul in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test inspired the Indian team for a historic test win in the dead rubber.

Shami has been India's major strike bowler in test format with 110 wickets in just 30 matches. He was picked in the Indian squad for Afghanistan Test but unfortunately missed out due to a failure in Yo-Yo test. As Shami proved his fitness by clearing it on the second chance, he was included in the squad for England Tests.

With Bumrah nursing a thumb injury and perceived to be match-fit for the 2nd test, Shami will be the key bowler for India in the first test. Since the conditions are expected to be dry, the team management will be looking to manage bowler's workload by dropping Pandya and have five proper bowlers in the side.

#2. Kuldeep Yadav in for Ravindra Jadeja

The nature of the pitch will decide Kuldeep's selection into the playing XI

As England is facing one of their hottest summers in the last few years, the pitch throughout the series is hoped to be dry, which opens the door for Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI. Kuldeep Yadav was the star in the Indian bowling line-up despite under-par performances from others.

Though Jadeja came out with a decent performance against Afghanistan, he struggled during his last tour in England (Champions Trophy, 2017) with both bat and ball. Considering Kuldeep's form, Jadeja will be benched for the young Chinaman and Ashwin.

Even England will run through the memories from Lord's Test (2014) before preparing a green pitch for the series.

#1. Rishabh Pant in for Dinesh Karthik

England Lions v India A - scored

fifties

in both innings

Selection of Rishabh Pant into the playing XI will be a strategic decision made considering the future prospects.

Though some may consider it as a bizarre decision to bench an experienced player like Dinesh Karthik, Pant's inclusion in the India A's tour to England has provided him enough match practice in English conditions. Dinesh Karthik lacks in this aspect since he got to play only 1 game (3rd ODI) in the limited overs format.

In an unofficial test against England Lions, Pant scored twin fifties on a pitch which offered lateral seam-moment. The performance came when senior players like Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane struggled against a decent bowling line-up.

Pant has the knack of scoring runs at a greater pace in any format. With his hard-hitting ability, he can be the X-factor which team India requires for the England Tour in the batting line-up.