England vs India 2018: Predicting India's batting order for the Tests

After much deliberations and skirting different injury concerns, the Indian Test squad to face England has been announced. Although, the majority of the team pick themselves, but there are a few inclusions in the squad which will ignite debates and discussions in the cricketing parleys.

However, the majority of the side looks settled and if the players perform to their potential, they can give the England side a run for their money.

After being comprehensively beaten by England in the ODI-series, Virat Kohli's men would want to prove a point in whites. They had a reasonable tour of South Africa and should look to carry forward that momentum.

Although there are few injury concerns with the bowling department, the batting looks formidable and with players in reasonable form, the contest at the top of the order should be an intriguing one.

Here in this slider, we try to predict India's batting order for the first Test match. Against James Anderson and Stuart Broad, these batsmen will have to be at the top of their games in order to put a decent enough score on the board for their bowlers to bowl at.

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#1 Murali Vijay

Perhaps the most reliable batsman at the top of the order, Murali Vijay was hugely successful in an otherwise disappointing tour to England back in 2014. His ability to leave the ball well outside the off stump should hold him in great stead once again, more so if the duke ball swings around.

He has been in decent form, with a century against Afghanistan in Bangalore, but he will know that the English bowling attack in their own backyard will be a different kettle of fish and hence he has to apply himself and can at no time afford to lose his composure. His form at the top of the order will in many ways lay down a marker for the rest of the batting order.

#2 Shikhar Dhawan

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After a few flashy innings in South Africa, Shikhar Dhawan was benched from the Test squad, but ever since he has been in sparkling form, more so against the white ball. He gave glimpses of his form in the ODI series, but could not get decisive scores.

However, he smashed Afghanistan in Bangalore, and he could well do the same to the English bowlers. With the weather dry around England, the pitches might not be as spruced up and this would allow Dhawan to go for his strokes and take the attack to the opposition right at the outset.

#3 KL Rahul

For all this talent and form, KL Rahul has not been as impressive in the limited overs leg of the series. Barring the century in the first T20I in Manchester, he has not scored lot many runs, but such is his form that it will be very difficult to keep him out of the side.

He might well take the place of Cheteshwar Pujara, who has struggled in the county circuit where he has been playing for Yorkshire. Pujara has not looked comfortable at all against the red ball and the management could opt for Rahul for the number three slot.

#4 Virat Kohli

Captain Virat Kohli will walk out at the number four position and the entire batting will rotate around him. After a successful trip to South Africa, Kohli has managed to score to 70+ scores in the ODI series, but has not yet notched up a century.

After the shocking tour back in 2014, Kohli knows better than anyone that this is his chance to silence all his detractors and perhaps this is also his team's best chance to win a series in England after 2007.

#5 Ajinkya Rahane

The vice-captain will follow the captain, and there is little doubt that a firing Ajinkya Rahane is critical to India's chances in the series.

Back in 2014, his century was one of the primary reason for India's win at Lord's and this series, the pressure will once again be on him to get the job done for his side.

However, he has not been in the best of forms of late, but he is a gun player in overseas conditions and has the temperament and ability to turn around his string of low scores in a matter of one session.