India's Predicted Playing XI for the first Test againt England

India will lock horns with England in the first Test at Birmingham from August 1. It will be extremely important for the Indian team to start the long series on a winning note. The Indian team has been depleted due to injuries to their premier fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Even though India has a strong bench strength when it comes to the pace department, the services of Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah will be dearly missed in the pacer-friendly English conditions.

The team management will also be sweating over several team selection headaches. The fight for the openers slot is a three-way contest. While Murali Vijay is certain to play, one of KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan will accompany him. Another important decision to be made is about whether to go with two spinners or just one spinner and also if Kuldeep Yadav should be included in the playing XI, keeping in mind how effective he was in the limited-overs leg of the tour.

There are a lot of crucial decisions to be made and it is very difficult to predict India's playing XI. However, looking at recent form and performances from the practice match against Essex, we will try to predict the probable XI for the first Test.

Openers

Murli Vijay

Vijay has been rock solid at the top of the order

One player who has been consistent in overseas tours has been Murali Vijay. Even though he hasn't scored big runs, he has been able to give India solid starts. Vijay who is called 'The monk' by his teammates for his immense levels of concentration will look to resist the initial burst from the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

KL Rahul

Rahul might be preferred over Dhawan

KL Rahul looks set to start in the playing XI at Birmingham. Shikhar Dhawan, Rahul's competitor for the opening spot, bagged a pair in the practice game against Essex. Moreover, Dhawan's recent form has been indifferent and his performance in overseas Tests has been below par. On the other hand, Rahul made a steady 58 in the practice match and looks technically stronger.

Middle-order

Cheteswar Pujara

Pujara's county experience might come in handy for Team India

Like Dhawan, Pujara did not have a fruitful practice match and scored just 24 runs in the two innings. However, Pujara has had a decent stint with his county side Yorkshire earlier this year. His experience of playing in these conditions will come in handy for the Indian side. His form will be key for India in this series.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli will be keen to set the record straight in Tests in England

Last time when India toured England, Virat Kohli was in top form and was expected to set the stage on fire. But unfortunately, Virat failed terribly as he struggled against the moving ball outside off-stump. Virat Kohli will want to set the record straight this time around as he looks more accomplished as a batsman now and will be a big threat for England. Also it will be important how he goes with his captaincy.

Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane has the ability to play in challenging

condtions

This is going to be a crucial series for Ajinkya Rahane's career. Already out of the ODI and T20 side, Rahane hasn't been consistent in Tests off-late. He was dropped in the series against South Africa as Rohit Sharma was preferred over him. However, he made a good comeback and played a good hand in India's victory in the third Test. Rahane's ability to score runs against top quality bowling attacks will come good for Team India.

Wicket-Keeper and All-rounders

Dinesh Karthik

Karthik played the 2007 tour of England as an opener

Even though Dinesh Karthik will get a chance in the playing XI because of Wriddhiman Saha's injury, nothing can be taken away from Karthik who has continuously performed well in domestic cricket and deserves a place in the Indian side.

Karthik has been in rich vein of form and was the highest scorer in the practice game against Essex and will be keen to grab this opportunity.

Hardik Pandya

Pandya can take the attack to the opposition

India will have the luxury of having a fast bowling all-rounder in the squad, something that was missing in the last few tours of England. Pandya has the ability to play aggressive cricket and take the game away from the opposition in a session.

His unorthodox style of batting can unsettle the English bowlers. Pandya has been improving as a bowler too and will provide an extra option to Kohli.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin will be key to India's chances in the series

England's weakness to spin bowling was exposed to a certain extent by Kuldeep Yadav earlier in the tour and Ravi Ashwin will look to exploit this weakness further. The experienced off-spinner will fancy his chances against the not-so-certain England batsmen.

Also, England has a lot of left-handers in the side and Ashwin will be a big threat to them. His batting lower down the order will also be crucial.

Fast Bowlers

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav appealing for a wicket

Even though Umesh Yadav went for runs in the T20 and ODI series, he took wickets and troubled the English batsmen with his pace. He was also India's most successful bowler in the practice game with four wickets to his name. If Yadav can work on bowling consistently on a good line and length, he can be dangerous for the batsmen.

Mohammed Shami

Shami's fitness will be keenly observed

Mohammed Shami will be making a comeback to the Indian team after failing in the mandatory YoYo test before the one-off Test against Afghanistan. Shami has struggled with form and fitness recently and will be keen to get back in full flow in the first Test.

He has shown in the past that when in rhythm, he can destroy any batting line-up in the world. India will be banking on Shami to do well against England.

Ishant Sharma

Ishant will be

lead

the Indian bowling-attack

The responsibility of leading the bowling-attack will be on the shoulders of Ishant Sharma. In the absence of Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar, Ishant's performance will be vital for India's chances in the series.

Ishant has played a lot of cricket, both international and county, in English conditions and his relentless bowling can cause problems for England's experienced batting line-up.