India vs Sri Lanka 2017: India's predicted XI to take on Sri Lanka in first Test

After achieving success in the two limited-overs series against New Zealand, the Indian cricket team are set to host Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series which begins on November 16 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Having missed out on all the action in the limited-overs series, the Test specialists namely Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Murali Vijay, and Wriddhiman Saha are set to make a comeback to the side.

In this article, we take a look at India's predicted playing XI for the first Test against the Lankans.

Openers

Murali Vijay

The 33-year-old has not played a single international game since the conclusion of the Test series against Australia earlier this year. Itching to get back into action, Vijay has been a part of Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy squad in preparation for the Test series.

After failing to make an impact in the first two matches, he finally found his feet against Odisha in the ongoing fourth round of action, with a century to his name.

KL Rahul

His Test form has never been in doubt and he is currently on a hot streak, scoring a half-century in his previous six Test innings, two of those against Sri Lanka itself.

Middle order

Cheteshwar Pujara

Arguably one of the best Test batsmen in the world right now, Cheteshwar Pujara has been in ominous form over the past one year or so.

Ever since the beginning of India's extended home season back in 2016, Pujara has dominated all the teams who have come visiting.

He has scored three centuries in his previous five Test innings, including two against Sri Lanka. He will look to carry his beastly form with the bat into the upcoming Test series as well and assert his dominance once again.

Virat Kohli

The Indian captain has played every match since taking over at the helm and it's surprising that he has not given himself a break yet.

He was absolutely brilliant in the recently concluded limited-overs series against the Blackcaps. However, his Test form has not been great of late, having failed to score a single half-century in his previous six innings.

He will look to carry on his LOI form into the upcoming Test series.

Ajinkya Rahane

The vice-captain of the side would have been hard done with the fact that he didn't get to play a single limited overs match against either Australia or New Zealand.

He will be itching to get back into action and find his run-scoring form once again. He had a decent outing against Sri Lanka last time around, with one half-century and one century to his name.

Wriddhiman Saha

After a long while, it is time for MS Dhoni to take a break and Wriddhiman Saha to take over the wicket-keeping duties once again.

Saha has honed his skills behind the wickets over the past year or so and has become one of the best keepers in the world.

He has shown a lot of improvement in his batting as well, having scored a century and half-century in his previous five Test innings.

All-rounders

Ravichandran Ashwin

At the beginning of the year, no one would have expected Ravichandran Ashwin to be dropped from the limited overs side. However, with the emergence of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin was forced to sit out.

He took the time off to play a stint of county cricket with Worcestershire and achieved quite a lot of success with them.

Currently playing in the Ranji Trophy, Ashwin will be itching to get back into action and be amongst the thick of things once again.

Ravindra Jadeja

Just like Ashwin, nobody would have expected Jadeja to be dropped from the ODI or T20I sides.

The former world no. 1 bowler has not played much cricket since the Test series in Sri Lanka in August.

He performed exceptionally well for Saurashtra in the first round of the Ranji Trophy, scoring a double century and picking up seven wickets with the ball.

Bowlers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The 27-year-old is most likely to miss out on the playing XI for the second Test due to his marriage, however, he will most likely open the bowling for India in the first Test.

The Eden Gardens pitch is most likely to assist seam bowlers and Bhuvi will like to make the most of this in the first few overs.

Umesh Yadav

Just like Ashwin and Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, too, has missed out on a lot of action of late. He was one of the standout performers in the Test series against Australia earlier this year and carried on his good run of form into the Tests against Sri Lanka as well in August.

Currently playing in the Ranji Trophy, he has been amongst the wickets for Vidarbha. He will look to provide the vital breakthroughs for India in the first Test.

Mohammad Shami

The 27-year-old has been at his deadly best in the Ranji Trophy of late. He has picked up 18 wickets in the three matches he has played for Bengal so far.

He played reasonably well in the Test series against Sri Lanka in August and will look to pick up a few more wickets than he did last time.

He will also look to remain fit throughout the series and be available for the upcoming tour against South Africa.