India's probable playing XI for third Test against England

This will be my playing eleven for the Trent Bridge Test.

Openers - KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan

India should open with Rahul and Dhawan. Both of them are reputed for an attacking brand of cricket and are capable of decimating any bowling attack. They should go after the English bowling from the word go.

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Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara shall play a pivotal role in the middle order

Pujara is a compact batsman with a solid technique. His nag of scoring big hundreds makes him an asset for the team. He is an ideal Test batsman who can play the role of an accumulator in the middle order.

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Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli will be the key

Kohli, without doubt, is India's best batsman. He has shown his class in the Edgbaston Test where he amassed 200 runs. India would expect Kohli to carry his form in the thirst Test.

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Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane is due for a big innings

Rahane has one of the best averages overseas among the current Indian batsmen. He has shown glimpses of his class in the Lord's Test. Indian vice-captain would be aghast with his mode of dismissals in either innings though. He would definitely look to rectify this going forward.

Karun Nair

Karun Nair should replace Pandya at No.6

Kohli should bring in Nair in place of Pandya to strengthen his beleaguered batting line-up. Pandya has been average with the bat and bowl so this should not be a tough decision to make.

Nair needs no introduction as he is only the second Indian batsman to score a triple century in Tests after Virender Sehwag. He is an elegant stroke-maker and a gritty middle order batsman. Nair should feel at home in English conditions as he was captain of the India A side which were on a month-long tour to England in July.

Rishabh Pant

Pant should replace Karthik

Though Karthik has been terrific behind the stumps, he has been terrible with the bat. He has been at sea against the moving ball. Rishabh Pant needs to be drafted in place of Karthik.

Pant is a fearless young cricketer who tonks the cricket ball really hard. He already had a feel of the English conditions as he(like Karun Nair) was part of the India A team which toured England recently.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin would be the lone spinner in the side

Ashwin will shoulder the lone spinner role in the side. He is expected to do more of a holding job as the pitch would not offer any turn. Ashwin can contribute with the bat as well. This was on display in the Lord's Test where he was the highest scorer in both the innings.

Bumrah, Ishant, Shami would form the pace attack

Bumrah will bolster the pace attack

Bumrah's inclusion will bolster the Indian pace attack for the thirst Test. He has been a proven performer and he will be eagerly looking forward to bowl in English conditions.

Shami has been the pick of the Indian bowlers in this series. India would expect him to fire with the same venom in the upcoming matches as well.

Experience of Ishant would come in handy for a pace attack which is quite inexperienced. Ishant has been inconsistent so far in this series and Kohli would expect his premium pace bowler to fire on all cylinders in the upcoming Test.