The Test series holds a special place in discussions of cricket enthusiasts. In fact, the success of any tour gets gauged by the Test performance of a particular team.
India had done well on the South African tour early this year where the bowlers scalped 60 wickets in the series. Thus, the Indian batsmen will like to tighten the screws.
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce the squad for the England Tests in a couple of days.
Thus, we take a look at the players who can be part of the Indian team for the pivotal five-match series.
Here is a look at Indian Predicted Test squad.
Openers.
KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay
India team management will face the selection headaches as far as the opening position is concerned. Rahul is in good form in the white-ball format.
However, Dhawan has looked a bit out of touch. Thus, given his experience, Murali Vijay should make his place in the playing XI.
Middle Order.
Chesteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma
Chesteshwar Pujara is expected to be the rock around which other Indian batsmen will bat. Furthermore, his County experience will also help.
Virat Kohli would not like to be the lone warrior like he was on the South African tour. Indian skipper will want support from the other end as well.
Indian think tank has to make the right selection decision. Thus, Ajinkha Rahane must find his place in the final XI. Rohit Sharma can also get his place in the Indian Test squad. However, his place in the last XI will be doubtful.
All-Rounder
Hardik Pandya will have a big role to play in England. Pandya has shown that he is capable of doing well in the red-ball format and he would like to deliver the goods.
Wicketkeepers
Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel
It is reported that Wriddhiman Saha is likely to get ruled out due to his thumb injury. Thus, Dinesh Karthik will stay with the Indian team, as he is in fine form. Furthermore, Parthiv Patel can also be added, as the backup keeper.
Fast Bowlers
Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma
Umesh Yadav will like to make use of limited-over series experience in Tests. Bhuvneshwar Kumar can get the ball to move both ways. In fact, he is expected to regain his full fitness before the Test series.
There is doubt over Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion in the side, as there is not an update on his thumb injury. Ishant Sharma will not only like to make use of his overall experience but also his County stint.
Spinners
Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav
Ravichandran had done a great job in the red-ball form of the game. Furthermore, Ashwin will also like to make use of his County experience. It is going to be difficult for the Indian selectors to overlook Kuldeep Yadav.
The chinaman had breathed down the neck of English batsmen in the limited-overs series. Therefore, he is expected to be in the test side.
Indis’ Predicted 16-man Squad for Test series:
KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.
The first match will kick start from August 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
