The Indian cricket team will start a new era in Tests with a five-match series against England. With Shubman Gill as the new Test captain and Rishabh Pant as vice-captain, India are all set to enter the transition phase after the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
The first Test between India and England is set to be played from June 20 at Headingley, Leeds and the Shubman Gill-led side is expected to field a balanced playing XI, leveraging English conditions.
Here's India’s likely Playing XI for the 1st Test against England:
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Young left-handed batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been very consistent in the recent past, is all set to open the innings for India in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds.
KL Rahul, who brings that much-needed experience, is likely to open the innings for India alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. Rahul did well for India as opener during the last tour of England.
India have two good options in Sai Sudharsan or Karun Nair, who could bat at No. 3 in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. Both Sudharsan and Nair are technically sound and going through good form as well. The 33-year-old Nair recently hit a double hundred while playing for India A against England Lions in a four-day practice game in Canterbury. His impressive performance in the practice game might give him a preference over Sudharsan in the Indian playing XI for the first Test.
Shubman Gill will lead India in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. The 25-year-old Gill has mostly batted at the top of the order or at number three in his Test career so far but he could take the big responsibility of replacing Virat Kohli at No. 4 spot in the Indian cricket team. Gill might bat at No. 4 spot for India in the first Test against England. Him moving to No. 4 spot could be a game changer moment for Gill and might elevate his Test career.
Explosive middle-order batter and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is all set to bat at No. 5 for India in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. Pant has been one of the best batters for India in Test cricket in the last few years and the team would be expecting some counterattacking knocks from him during the tour.
Ravindra Jadeja will give that perfect balance to the Indian team with his all-round skills during the upcoming England tour. He is likely to bat at No. 6 for India in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, the young all-rounder will offer batting depth and pace bowling options to the Indian team during the upcoming England tour. Nitish is likely to bat at No. 7 for India in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds and bowl some crucial overs as well.
All-rounder Shardul Thakur has done well for England in Test cricket in the past. Once again, he is going to play a crucial role for India and his performance with both bat and ball can determine the fate of India in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will lead the Indian bowling lineup in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. A fully-fit Bumrah will be a lethal weapon for India against England.
India would expect a lot from Mohammed Siraj in their first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. Siraj, who has enough experience now, is expected to lead the attack alongside Bumrah in English conditions.
India have plenty of options in Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Akashdeep, when it comes to picking their third pacer for the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds.
Prasidh Krishna's brilliant performance in the Sydney Test against Australia earlier this might help him in getting that preference over Arshdeep Singh and Akashdeep.
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