England vs India, 2018: 5 milestone that Indian players could achieve in the Test series

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the Test series against England. India will be starting their Test campaign in England from 1st of August at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

The Men in Blue kick-started this tour in a grand style by winning the T20I series 2-1. However, England proved to be too good a team to beat in the ODI series as the Indian team lost the series 1-2. Thus, the Indian team would be looking forward to starting the Test series on a high with an improved performance on the English soil in the longer formats of the game.

Hence, before we head to the much-hyped series, let us have a look at five milestones that the Indian team would be closing into as they meet England for the test series starting from August.

India Squad for first three Tests: Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, and Mohammed Shami.

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#5 Ishant Sharma racing towards 250 Test wickets

The tall and lanky fast bowler from Delhi, Ishant Sharma, will be India's crucial bowler in the upcoming Test series against England. For past two years, Ishant has been consistently delivering the goods for the Indian Test team, especially at overseas tours.

With a lovely high-arm action, raw pace, the capacity to generate an extra bounce, and ability to consistently bowl at 140 clicks, Ishant has achieved a considerable amount of success in the longer formats of the game.

Ishant Sharma is close to a milestone in Test cricket. He is just 12 wickets shy from the mark of 250 Test wickets. Scalping these wickets, Ishant will become the only 7th Indian to take 250 or more wickets in Test cricket.

#4 Ajinkya Rahane closing in on 3000 Test runs

Ajinkya Rahane, the right-handed batsman from Maharashtra, has been a central figure in India's Test team for quite a time now. The vice-captain of the Indian Test team has been the go-to-go man at the overseas tours.

Rahane's practical intelligence, equilibrium at the crease, and his compact technique helps him churn out runs at will. He possesses an enunciated forward movement and a front-on stance which has been conducive in making him a stable short-ball player - an added skill that most of his peers lack.

The Mumbaikar is just short of a milestone in Test cricket. He is just 107 short of the 3000-run mark in Test cricket. Amassing these runs, Rahane will become the 22nd Indian to score 3000 or more runs in Test cricket.

#3 Murali Vijay just an inch away form 4000-run mark

Ever since the transition period hit the Indian team, Murali Vijay, a classical right-handed batsman from Chennai, has wonderfully assumed the role of an opener in the Indian team.

With quick feet to get to the stride of the ball and a fleet understanding of the length, Vijay is an exceptional player of spin. Vijay is also an excellent timer of the ball and tends to cuff the ball with his forearms rather than with a strong bottom-hand. Thus, with strong basics up his sleeves, Vijay will turnout be an important player for India in the upcoming Test series against England.

Murali Vijay is closing into a milestone in Test cricket. Having scored 3907 runs in Test cricket, Vijay needs just 93 runs more to achieve the feat of 4000 Test runs. Garnering these runs, he will become the 16th Indian to accomplish this feat.

#2 Cheteshwar Pujara to add another feather to the Test cap; 5000 Test runs

Cheteshwar Pujara, the right-handed prodigy from Saurashtra, has been one of the most focussed batsmen when it comes to Test cricket. With atavistic batting technique and sturdy mindset, Pujara happens to be a perfect recipe for Test cricket.

With a long Test series up next, Pujara will prove to be a key player for India if ever they are to attain success in the English conditions. Having assumed the responsibility of the anchoring the middle-order in the past, once again, Pujara will be spearheading the Indian middle-order in England.

Cheteshwar Pujara is all set to achieve yet another milestone in Test cricket. Pujara is 469 runs behind the golden mark of 5000 Test runs. Scoring these runs, Pujara will become the only 12th Indian to achieve the feat of 5000 Test runs.

#1 Virat Kohli running towards the 6000-run mark

If India eye a Test series win against England, this man's form will be of utmost importance. For past several years, Kohli has been India's best man across all the formats. You speak of milestones/records, and his name will roll out onto the sheets. Such has been Virat's reputation.

His eloquent drives and customary cricketing genres have been a treat to watch in this modern unconventional cricketing world. With every shot in his magazine, Kohli parades to be one of the greatest stroke-maker in the history of cricket.

Virat Kohli, once again, is racing forward to achieve a milestone in Test cricket. Kohli is 446 runs minus the 6000-run mark in Test cricket. Amassing these runs, Kohli will become the only 10th Indian to score 6000 or more runs in Test cricket.