England vs India, Test: 5 Players to Watch out for

It has been a balanced chapter until now as both India and England even up their series score to a 1-1 margin. When India won the T20I series, England team made a comeback by winning the ODI series. Now the focus shifts on to the 5 match test series. The Indian team will seek to avenge the 2014 series loss.

English men had their last test outing against the Pakistan team and managed to finish the series 1-1. India's previous test bou was against the new Afghanistan side. The team was led by the vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane. The match witnessed a total dominance of the Indian team. Men in Blue played their last test series under Kohli's captaincy against the Proteas. Although India managed to win the ODI and T20I series but was defeated in the test series.

As India is aiming for a retribution for their 2014 test series loss, BCCI announced an 18 Men test squad on Wednesday. There were some unexpected picks with Rohit was unfasten due to poor performance in the South African series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the series due to a reported injury. Rishabh Pant got an opportunity in the squad along with Dinesh Karthik as the wicketkeeper. Fitness and poor form will surely be a worry for the Indian team management. Picking the best XI will be a tough task for Virat Kohli as there are players with talent and experience in the squad. As both India and England team begin their test series in the month of August, we are going for an analysis on the "5 Indian players who are capable of making wonders at England ".

# Kuldeep Yadav

The 23-year old left arm, Kuldeep Yadav played just 2 test matches for India. His last test match appearance was against Sri Lanka in 2017 in which the chinaman bowler showcased a 5 wicket performance.

Later, the Uttar Pradesh spinner had to limit his test outings for the domestic side. But Kuldeep managed to showcase a decent performance in the Indian Premier League which helped him to secure a spot in the Indian squad for the England tour. Kuldeep made use of his opportunities and showcased two brilliant performances with the white ball. 5 Wicket haul in the T20I series and 6-23 performance in the ODI series made him as a dare for the English batsmen.

The only chinaman bowler which the Indian team produced, Kuldeep Yadav is known for his wicket taking abilities. But his limited opportunities in the test format generalized him as a white ball player. Kuldeep's performances in the series that he has adjusted with the English pitches. If Kuldeep maintained his form, it is certain that he will be a threat for Joe Root and team.

# Virat Kohli

There is no doubt on this batsmen's consistency. Virat Kohli's performance was splendid throughout the England series. There were 2 half century performances by him with a total of 301 runs from 6 outings.

Kohli is wearing the jersey after almost 6 months. Although the South African tour was a failure, Kohli was the leading run scorer in the series.

Kohli's responsibilities don't end up there. Picking up a balanced side for the outing will be crucial to India's success. Kohli has to build a good bowling attack in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah who were crucial in the South African tour.

# Shikhar Dhawan

Yes, you read it right. Shikhar Dhawan can also be a game changer at England. The left hand Delhi batsmen had a poor start at England with just 19 runs in the T20I series. But the ODI series witnessed a decent resurgence with 40,36,44 stat.

Dhawan is expected to open the Indian innings along with Murali Vijay. He had an average outing at South Africa in January, scored just 36 runs from his 2 innings. But a ton showcase against Afghanistan in his last test bout was impressive.

Shikhar Dhawan is capable of giving match winning knocks on his day. Although he isn't a consistent performer for the side, His previous experiences in the England pitch would be a comfort for the Indian team.

# Hardik Pandya

Pandya will have higher responsibilities in the series as he his the only in-form all-rounder in the squad. 2018 has been an excellent year for the Baroda all-rounder. Hardik scored 119 runs against South Africa in their test series and took 3 wickets. In his next test outing, Pandya scored a blistering half-century against Afghanistan.

He was exceptional at England with the bat and ball. The right arm medium pace took 7 wickets in the series and showcased a crucial cameo performance in the 3rd T20I.

In the absence of critical pacers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya will have a more prominent duty in the bowling department. As he is in a superb gig, Pandya's staging will be crucial in the test series.

# Murali Vijay

Don't be surprised, when India visited England last time in 2014, Murali Vijay was the top scorer for his side. The right-hand opener scored 402 runs in the test series. But poor performances, injuries detached Vijay from the Indian team.

His performance in the South African visit helped him to get a spot in the Afghanistan series. Vijay smashed an outstanding 105 in the match and assured his place in the England tour

Murali Vijay is 34 now, and there are many rumors spreading regarding his retirement. If he made use of his experience, flair in the test series, Vijay can shut the mouth of his criticizers.