1st Test: India vs England - Probable playing XI for India 

CRICKET-RSA-IND-TEST

Holding the Number 1 position in the ICC Test Rankings is a huge reputation to live up to. Expectations of the general Indian public from the team would be touching the skies and India have a point to prove.

Having performed exceptionally well in subcontinental conditions, India is yet to win a Test series overseas under Virat Kohli. Given the historic win at Lords in 2014 and the recuperative win in South Africa after being down 2-0, India will have enough motivation to go past England on their turf.

Most of the players in the Test Squad have not been playing the limited overs series. As the squad for the first 3 matches of the Test Series has been announced, let us look at who all could be playing the first Test match.

OPENERS

#1 Murali Vijay

Being calm and composed, irrespective of what the situation is on the field is a commendable quality. Murali Vijay also referred to as 'Monk' by his teammates, epitomizes calmness and composure.

He is never in a hurry to score runs and takes his time while putting bad deliveries away stylishly and leaving the good ones. One of the best players of swing bowling in India and one of the finest readers of the cricket ball behavior, Murali Vijay has made himself a test specialist batsman.

2nd Sunfoil Test: South Africa v India, Day 2

#2 KL Rahul

KL Rahul initially made his entry to International cricket through Test Cricket, and had a forgettable debut against Australia at Melbourne, but came back with a stunning 110 at Sydney in the very next match.

He showed how well he could bounce back and that too when he had no international experience. With time, he has become an integral part of the Indian Test side. He has been extremely consistent at the top of the order and therefore, deserves to open for India against England.

Sri Lanka v India - Cricket, 3rd Test - Day 1

MIDDLE ORDER

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara

The number 3 spot is reserved for Cheteshwar Pujara. A class batsman, who has many records in his name, and has also shown marked improvement over time. Pujara is an obvious choice for the position. He has had a tremendous county season with the bat too and would be looking to increase his count of hundreds in English conditions.

Sri Lanka v India - 1st Test Match

#4 Virat Kohli

Skipper Virat might not have been as consistent in Test Cricket, but he has a lot to give back to England. He must be still having the dismal memories of his last bilateral series in England, where he had failed miserably with the bat in all formats.

However, the way he has scored 6 Double Centuries in Test cricket in no time, he is a big worry for the English bowlers.

He would look to overcome his weakness of playing swinging deliveries outside the off stump, something he has always been vulnerable and in England too. Indian fans would be hoping to see him fire and lead by example, just as he did in his career-defining series against Australia in late 2014.

Australia v India - 4th Test: Day 3

#5 Ajinkya Rahane

India's go-to man in foreign conditions, Rahane would be sincerely hoping to prove his critics wrong this summer in England. He has to step up his role of anchoring the innings during the middle overs and be consistent.

He has great numbers outside the subcontinent, but he has to live up to his reputation and expectations from him. One bad series for Rahane might mean eviction from the team, making way for Karun Nair at number 5 or maybe Shikhar Dhawan getting a place at the top, while KL Rahul bats at number 4, in between Pujara and Kohli.

Australia v India: 3rd Test - Day 3
Ajinkya Rahane

WICKET-KEEPER AND ALL-ROUNDERS

#6 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik is expected to get a place in the side ahead of Rishabh Pant. He has shown tremendous improvement over the past few months and has broadened his horizon of batting, quickly adapting to the role of a finisher.

How he plays and adjusts to the conditions and pitches in England will determine whether he can be considered for the 2019 World Cup or not, as he couldn't do much in the one ODI he got to play.

India needs someone who can shift gears while batting, finish games off and can keep wickets too. This series could be a wellspring for Dinesh Karthik to actually show his character, skill, and temperament. However, it will be difficult for Dinesh to appear in the selectors' radar ahead of the charismatic Rishabh Pant.

Indian batsman Dinesh Karthik watches as...

#7 Hardik Pandya

From being a lanky T20 specialist, who could slog and hit sixes and also chip in with a few overs of seam in the middle, Hardik Pandya has developed himself into the dependable all-rounder he today is.

He is seen as a serious threat by all oppositions today, after the insane 108 against Sri Lanka and the 93 against South Africa. England would be aware that they shouldn't take Pandya lightly. His ability to bowl quick in the middle overs and maintain pressure on the opposition makes him a must for the Indian Test side.

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SPINNERS

#8 Ravichandran Ashwin

Apart from being India's most successful bowler among the chosen pack in the longer format of the game, Ashwin is also a very handy batsman who has a good technique and can build partnerships.

He has 4 test centuries and 11 fifties, which speak volumes about his quality and caliber as a test batsman. He can do wonders for India, as he has been doing over the years, picking frequent 5 wicket hauls and also contributing with the bat.

CRICKET-RSA-IND-TEST

#9 Kuldeep Yadav

One of the most talented and skillful spinners, Kuldeep has lots to offer. He can bowl the regular chinaman, the wrong-un or googly as well as the flipper quite comfortably. However, his strength and secret to success have been bowling his stock delivery consistently and always looking to pick wickets.

With a fantastic 4-wicket haul on his debut, and a leading contributor to India's home series victory against Australia in 2017, on top of that, the heroics in the first T20I against England and the first ODI, scalping 5 and 6 wickets respectively, Kuldeep has the ability to end up as one of the greats to have played the game.

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PACERS

#10 Mohammad Shami

Amidst all kinds of personal issues, Mohammad Shami has made it to the Test squad and would be looking to make a solid return to the National side, having missed out on International Cricket for a considerable period.

Shami has always been a very useful swing bowler for India who has taken wickets at crucial times. The very fact that he hasn't been one of the intimidating bowlers in Test cricket might work well for him, as England might take him slightly easier than they should.

He may just have 3 five-wicket hauls in Tests, but with the daunting way he bowled in South Africa earlier this year, in pace-friendly conditions, Shami can certainly prove to be dangerous and lethal with the new ball as well as the old ball, courtesy his ability to reverse swing the ball.

CRICKET-RSA-IND-TEST

#11 Ishant Sharma

Virat Kohli might want to go with the experience of Ishant Sharma, who has played in England before and would be familiar with the conditions. He had also scalped 7 wickets for 74, his career-best figures in India's historic win at Lords.

Given the added advantage that he has been playing County Cricket for the last 2-3 months and has done exceedingly well in the same, swinging the ball both sides and picking lots of wickets, he is almost certain to be picked.

Australia v India - First Test: Day 1

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Edited by Siddharth Ostwal