England vs India 2018: Best possible Indian Playing XI at Edgbaston

Middle Order

Rahane seems to be the perfect fit for No.5

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane at No.5 is probably the most technically sound batsman in this Indian Lineup. He has shades of both Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in his stroke play.

Rahane has scored runs all around the world and was India's best batsman on the tour of 2014.

The batsman from Mumbai scored a breathtaking hundred at Lords enabling India to win they're only game of the test series.

Rahane has been the glue of the Indian middle order for some time now. He has the capability of playing the waiting game as well as scoring runs at a fast rate when required.

He has had a dip in form with the bat in recent times, but the Indian Team would be backing him to take inspiration from his exploits on the previous English tour and lead the run-scoring charts once again for his team.

Middle Order/ Wicket Keeper

Dinesh Karthik

With India's first choice wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha out for another two months owing to an injury, the two wicketkeepers picked by the selectors are Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant.

India in all probability should be going into the first test match with Dinesh Karthik as their man behind the stumps.

Karthik has been around for quite a while now. He was with the team when they won their first ever test series in England.

The Tamil Nadu batsman had scored a brilliant 91* in the last game of the three-match series which ensured India a draw and a 1-0 series victory. Karthik, who has been in the shadows of a certain MS Dhoni ever since the latter made his debut, would believe life has come a full circle for him again.

He has been granted an opportunity yet again to be India's first choice wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket. However, Karthik has earned his spot. He has turned a new leaf and been in great form in limited overs cricket in recent times for India.

He currently looks the best with bat in hand than he has ever looked in his career, but it is his glove work that needs to be spot on for him to give any competition to Wriddhiman Saha who is arguably the best wicket keeper in the world.

Even though India might be tempted to play the flamboyant and raw talent in Rishabh Pant, but it would probably be the experience that would get the nod.