5 Indian players to watch out for in India-England Tests

Team India is all set to take on England in the 5-match Test series at home. India is currently the number one ranked Test team in the world. Having whitewashed the New Zealand side recently in Tests, the confidence level is bound to be sky high for Indians. Skipper Virat Kohli’s dream run with the bat and as captain is a merry for the spectators. On the other hand, England have had mixed fortunes recently. They drew level in the home series against Pakistan and then ended up losing a Test in Bangladesh.

However, the England side will take pride in the fact that they have had success on the Indian soil when they travelled in 2012. England is the only team to have beaten India in India in a Test series in the last decade. However, the Virat Kohli-led side is keen on not letting the same happen again. The series is being tagged as a series to settle all past scores. While the limelight will be on the big names of the team, there are a few who can notch up a few headlines too.

These players will be keen to leave their mark on the series and help India emerge on top. If India aims to dominate a quality side like England, every player has to come up good for the team. Here we pick the top 5 players to watch out for in the India-England Test series:

1. Hardik Pandya:

All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been drafted in the Test side for the first time. If he gets drafted in the playing eleven, he will come in handy for Virat Kohli. Kohli can use him as the new ball bowler as MS Dhoni did during the ODI series against New Zealand. Moreover, if he shares the new ball with someone like Mohammad Shami, India can afford to play three spinners in the lineup.

Pandya has been clocking speeds of 140 at a consistent basis. He was instrumental in the quadrangular A team series held in Australia a couple of months ago. His hard-hitting batting credentials aren’t unknown either. He can provide depth to the batting line-up too. He had made an impressive ODI debut with a 3-wicket haul. Indian fans would be hoping for something similar from him in Tests too.

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