England's predicted playing XI for the 1st Test vs India

England and India face off at Chennai in the first of 4 Tests starting on the 5th of February.

Both teams come into this series with ICC Test Championship series wins under their belt away from home. While Joe Root's side whitewashed a miserable Sri Lankan outfit 2-0, India pulled off a historic 2-1 win over Australia Down Under.

England stuck to their policy of resting key players by excluding the likes of Sam Curran, Mark Wood and Jonny Bairstow from their squad for the first two Tests. However, Ben Stokes, Rory Burns and Jofra Archer, who didn't take part in the Sri Lanka series, return to the side.

England's squad for the first two Tests against India: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wicket-keeper), Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes (wicket-keeper), Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes

Here is England's predicted playing XI for the 1st Test against India.

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Openers: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley

Rory Burns was rested for the Sri Lanka Test series

England opened with Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley in the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, and both players didn't really impress.

While Sibley scored an unbeaten fifty in the second innings of the 2nd Test, Crawley should concede the his opening slot to Rory Burns, who was rested for the series.

Both Sibley and Burns have divided opinion in their short Test career so far. They appear rather ungainly at the crease, and don't have the textbook technique that is expected of English Test openers. They also aren't free-scoring batsmen, and often opt to get stuck in and blunt the new ball rather than take the attack to the bowlers.

However, at the end of the day, they're effective. Burns and Sibley will have a challenge on their hands in their first tour of India, and they'll want to make an impact like Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed made in the past.

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Middle Order: Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Jos Buttler (wk)

Joe Root holds the key

The No. 3 slot was occupied by Jonny Bairstow in the Sri Lanka series, but he finds himself rested for the first two Tests. While captain Joe Root could move up a spot to a position he has batted at in the past, it would be wise to utilise either Zak Crawley or Dan Lawrence instead.

After his record-breaking 267 against Pakistan in Southampton, Crawley managed scores of 9, 8, 5 and 13 in the two Tests against Sri Lanka. But the youngster has already been spoken of as the next Root, and he should be given a longer rope.

Lawrence scored 94 runs on debut in the 1st Test against Sri Lanka, but failed in the second, making 3 and 2 in the two innings. Although he showed promise and definitely has immense potential, he arguably didn't do enough to get the nod ahead of Crawley.

The in-form Joe Root, who was the Man of the Match in both Tests against Sri Lanka as well as the Man of the Series, will walk in at No. 4. With his wide array of sweeps and drives, he'll hold the key to countering the Indian spinners.

Jos Buttler will be the specialist wicket-keeper for the 1st Test, and he'll want to make the most of his only game in the series. The gloveman is in splendid form, and has once again put himself way ahead of Ben Foakes in the pecking order.

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All-rounders: Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali

Ben Stokes is well rested ahead of the India Test series

Ben Stokes, who will be well rested for the 1st Test, will come in at No. 5 for England. The all-rounder will serve as the third seamer for the side, and his gritty batting will make up the backbone of the English middle order.

This might be a controversial selection since Moeen Ali hasn't played Test cricket for England in over a year, but the team doesn't have any other spin-bowling all-rounders. He will serve as the third spinner in the XI, and will take heart from the success he has previously enjoyed against India.

Ali has often been a walking wicket against spin, with Nathan Lyon among those who have tormented him on end. He'll need to step his game up with the bat in this series.

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Bowlers: Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Jimmy Anderson, Jack Leach

Jimmy Anderson will be ready for what will probably be his last tour of India

England's spin duo of Dom Bess and Jack Leach picked up a pile of wickets against Sri Lanka, but that was more down to poor shot selection than their own ability with the ball. Both finger spinners are relatively inexperienced at the international level, and are a far cry from the Graeme Swanns and Monty Panesars England have fielded in the past.

However, with assistance from the pitch expected, they'll only need to pitch the ball in the right areas. On their first tour of India, they'll want to make the most of the conditions at their disposal and put in a few match-winning performances.

England playing two spinners along with Moeen Ali means that they might have room for only two pacers apart from Ben Stokes. Stuart Broad, who's placed at #2 in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings, might be the sacrificial lamb in this case.

Jimmy Anderson is still the leader of the pace attack, and showed that he still has a lot left in the tank with a 6-wicket haul against Sri Lanka on a flat deck in sweltering heat. Jofra Archer, on the other hand, has the extra pace and the X-factor to trouble the Indian batsmen.

As a result, due to no fault of his own, Broad might find himself out of the XI. England made the exact same decision against Pakistan when international cricket resumed post the pandemic-enforced break, and the speedster made them regret their decision.

But that game was at home, where England played three seamers and still didn't pick Broad. In subcontinental conditions, it might be a different story. If Root does want to call upon the services of his country's second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, either Archer or Ali could be dropped.

Chris Woakes will be a solid backup option on the bench.