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:

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.

<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/ind-v-eng-1st-test-preview-rajkot-set-to-host-first-encounter-india-begin-as-favorites/" target="_blank">IND v ENG, 1st Test Preview: Rajkot set to host first encounter; India begin as favorites</a></strong></h6>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/10/Gautam-Gambhir.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88501"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-88501" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Gautam-Gambhir.jpg" alt="Gautam Gambhir India" width="600" height="453" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88501" class="wp-caption-text">Gautam Gambhir. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Indian opener Gautam Gambhir got another look in for the Tests. He was brought back to the side after over 2 years during the New Zealand series. Gambhir announced his arrival in style with a quickfire fifty in the 2nd innings of the final Test against the Kiwis. He has been in a tremendous touch since the last 12 months.

Gambhir scored heavily in the Indian Premier League this year. He emerged as the leading run-getter for Kolkata Knight Riders and was among the top 5 run scorers of the tournament. He scored over 500 runs in the tournament. Gauti continued his good form across formats thereafter. With over 300 runs in the Duleep Trophy and a heavy average nearing 75, Gambhir had his case served for the selectors. He has a fair chance to cement his place in the team.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-79883"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-79883" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha India" width="600" height="483" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-79883" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha of India celebrates his century during day 2 of the 3rd Test. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha has slowly been taking giant strides in the national side. Once seen as a makeshift keeper in absence of MS Dhoni, Saha is now the official go-to keeper of the Test team. His efforts often go unnoticed as he bats with the tail on most occasions. He scored twin fifties in the Kolkata Test against New Zealand to win the Man of the Match award.

His wicket-keeping has been spot on too. There hasn’t been any major lapses or errors that one could point at. Saha seems to have perfectly caught the wicket-keeping role and has stumped the critics for a long season with an impressive show. He will be one of the key players to watch out for in the Tests against England.

<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/india-v-england-1st-test-india-predicted-xi/" target="_blank">India v England 1st Test – India Predicted XI</a></strong></h6>

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Ravindra-Jadeja-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88810"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-88810" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ravindra-Jadeja-1.jpg" alt="Ravindra Jadeja" width="600" height="438" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88810" class="wp-caption-text">Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption>

Ravindra Jadeja reinstated his authority as the all-rounder of the side against the blackcaps recently. Jadeja promises to be equally capable with both bat and the ball against England too. He was phenomenal in the first Test against New Zealand at Kanpur. He scored a crucial 42 back then to help India come out of hot waters. He followed it up with 5/73 to earn the Man of the Match then.

Jadeja proves to be the ideal second fiddle bowler to Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin, the number one ranked Test bowler, himself admitted that Jadeja makes his work a lot simpler with tidy lines and lengths. With a lot of inexperienced right-handed batsmen in the English lineup, Jadeja will be a deadly weapon to deal with for the visitors.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/07/Mohammed-Shami-2.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-77534"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-77534" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammed-Shami-2.jpg" alt="Mohammed Shami India" width="600" height="453" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-77534" class="wp-caption-text">India cricketer Mohammed Shami (R) is congratulated by teammates. (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Mohammad Shami is most likely to be the specialist pacer in the team if Kohli decides to go with 3 spinners. Shami is deadly to deal with when the ball is reverse swinging. He bowled a hostile spell of fast bowling against New Zealand in the 2nd Test at Kolkata. His efforts saw the visitors unable to cope up with the reverse swing.

Up front, he is accurate with his line and lengths and thus keeps things tight with the new ball. If England are to find success on the tour, they need to see off the pace and aggression of Mohammad Shami. Shami remains to be one of the top players to watch out for in the series.

<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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:</p>
<h4><strong>1. Hardik Pandya:</strong></h4>
<p><strong><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/11/Hardik-Pandya-Baroda.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-91870"><amp-img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-91870" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hardik-Pandya-Baroda.jpg" alt="Hardik Pandya" width="600" height="426" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a></strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/ind-v-eng-1st-test-preview-rajkot-set-to-host-first-encounter-india-begin-as-favorites/" target="_blank">IND v ENG, 1st Test Preview: Rajkot set to host first encounter; India begin as favorites</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>2. Gautam Gambhir:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_88501" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-88501" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/10/Gautam-Gambhir.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88501"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-88501" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Gautam-Gambhir.jpg" alt="Gautam Gambhir India" width="600" height="453" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88501" class="wp-caption-text">Gautam Gambhir. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Indian opener Gautam Gambhir got another look in for the Tests. He was brought back to the side after over 2 years during the New Zealand series. Gambhir announced his arrival in style with a quickfire fifty in the 2nd innings of the final Test against the Kiwis. He has been in a tremendous touch since the last 12 months.</p>
<p>Gambhir scored heavily in the Indian Premier League this year. He emerged as the leading run-getter for Kolkata Knight Riders and was among the top 5 run scorers of the tournament. He scored over 500 runs in the tournament. Gauti continued his good form across formats thereafter. With over 300 runs in the Duleep Trophy and a heavy average nearing 75, Gambhir had his case served for the selectors. He has a fair chance to cement his place in the team.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Wriddhiman Saha:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_79883" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-79883" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-79883"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-79883" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha India" width="600" height="483" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-79883" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha of India celebrates his century during day 2 of the 3rd Test. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha has slowly been taking giant strides in the national side. Once seen as a makeshift keeper in absence of MS Dhoni, Saha is now the official go-to keeper of the Test team. His efforts often go unnoticed as he bats with the tail on most occasions. He scored twin fifties in the Kolkata Test against New Zealand to win the Man of the Match award.</p>
<p>His wicket-keeping has been spot on too. There hasn’t been any major lapses or errors that one could point at. Saha seems to have perfectly caught the wicket-keeping role and has stumped the critics for a long season with an&nbsp;impressive show. He will be one of the key players to watch out for in the Tests against England.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read-&nbsp;<a href="http://www.crictracker.com/india-v-england-1st-test-india-predicted-xi/" target="_blank">India v England 1st Test – India Predicted XI</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>4. Ravindra Jadeja:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_88810" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-88810" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Ravindra-Jadeja-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88810"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-88810" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ravindra-Jadeja-1.jpg" alt="Ravindra Jadeja" width="600" height="438" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88810" class="wp-caption-text">Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Ravindra Jadeja reinstated his authority as the all-rounder of the side against the blackcaps recently. Jadeja promises to be equally capable with both bat and the ball against England too. He was phenomenal in the first Test against New Zealand at Kanpur. He scored a crucial 42 back then to help India come out of hot waters. He followed it up with 5/73 to earn the Man of the Match then.</p>
<p>Jadeja proves to be the ideal second fiddle bowler to Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin, the number one ranked Test bowler, himself admitted that Jadeja makes his work a lot simpler with tidy lines and lengths. With a lot of inexperienced right-handed batsmen in the English lineup, Jadeja will be a deadly weapon to deal with for the visitors.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Mohammad Shami:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_77534" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77534" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/07/Mohammed-Shami-2.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-77534"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-77534" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammed-Shami-2.jpg" alt="Mohammed Shami India" width="600" height="453" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-77534" class="wp-caption-text">India cricketer Mohammed Shami (R) is congratulated by teammates. (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Mohammad Shami is most likely to be the specialist pacer in the team if Kohli decides to go with 3 spinners. Shami is deadly to deal with when the ball is reverse swinging. He bowled a hostile spell of fast bowling against New Zealand in the 2nd Test at Kolkata. His efforts saw the visitors unable to cope up with the reverse swing.</p>
<p>Up front, he is accurate with his line and lengths and thus keeps things tight with the new ball. If England are to find success on the tour, they need to see off the pace and aggression of Mohammad Shami. Shami remains to be one of the top players to watch out for in the series.</p>

<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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:</p>
<h4><strong>1. Hardik Pandya:</strong></h4>
<p><strong><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/11/Hardik-Pandya-Baroda.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-91870"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-91870" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Hardik-Pandya-Baroda.jpg" alt="Hardik Pandya" width="600" height="426" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/ind-v-eng-1st-test-preview-rajkot-set-to-host-first-encounter-india-begin-as-favorites/" target="_blank">IND v ENG, 1st Test Preview: Rajkot set to host first encounter; India begin as favorites</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>2. Gautam Gambhir:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_88501" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-88501" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/10/Gautam-Gambhir.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88501"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-88501" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Gautam-Gambhir.jpg" alt="Gautam Gambhir India" width="600" height="453" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88501" class="wp-caption-text">Gautam Gambhir. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Indian opener Gautam Gambhir got another look in for the Tests. He was brought back to the side after over 2 years during the New Zealand series. Gambhir announced his arrival in style with a quickfire fifty in the 2nd innings of the final Test against the Kiwis. He has been in a tremendous touch since the last 12 months.</p>
<p>Gambhir scored heavily in the Indian Premier League this year. He emerged as the leading run-getter for Kolkata Knight Riders and was among the top 5 run scorers of the tournament. He scored over 500 runs in the tournament. Gauti continued his good form across formats thereafter. With over 300 runs in the Duleep Trophy and a heavy average nearing 75, Gambhir had his case served for the selectors. He has a fair chance to cement his place in the team.</p>
<h4><strong>3. Wriddhiman Saha:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_79883" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-79883" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-79883"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-79883" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha India" width="600" height="483" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-79883" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha of India celebrates his century during day 2 of the 3rd Test. (Photo by RANDY BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha has slowly been taking giant strides in the national side. Once seen as a makeshift keeper in absence of MS Dhoni, Saha is now the official go-to keeper of the Test team. His efforts often go unnoticed as he bats with the tail on most occasions. He scored twin fifties in the Kolkata Test against New Zealand to win the Man of the Match award.</p>
<p>His wicket-keeping has been spot on too. There hasn’t been any major lapses or errors that one could point at. Saha seems to have perfectly caught the wicket-keeping role and has stumped the critics for a long season with an impressive show. He will be one of the key players to watch out for in the Tests against England.</p>
<blockquote class="td_quote_box td_box_center">
<h6><strong>Also read- <a href="http://www.crictracker.com/india-v-england-1st-test-india-predicted-xi/" target="_blank">India v England 1st Test – India Predicted XI</a></strong></h6>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>4. Ravindra Jadeja:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_88810" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-88810" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/Ravindra-Jadeja-1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-88810"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-88810" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Ravindra-Jadeja-1.jpg" alt="Ravindra Jadeja" width="600" height="438" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-88810" class="wp-caption-text">Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Ravindra Jadeja reinstated his authority as the all-rounder of the side against the blackcaps recently. Jadeja promises to be equally capable with both bat and the ball against England too. He was phenomenal in the first Test against New Zealand at Kanpur. He scored a crucial 42 back then to help India come out of hot waters. He followed it up with 5/73 to earn the Man of the Match then.</p>
<p>Jadeja proves to be the ideal second fiddle bowler to Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin, the number one ranked Test bowler, himself admitted that Jadeja makes his work a lot simpler with tidy lines and lengths. With a lot of inexperienced right-handed batsmen in the English lineup, Jadeja will be a deadly weapon to deal with for the visitors.</p>
<h4><strong>5. Mohammad Shami:</strong></h4>
<figure id="attachment_77534" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77534" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/07/Mohammed-Shami-2.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-77534"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-77534" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mohammed-Shami-2.jpg" alt="Mohammed Shami India" width="600" height="453" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-77534" class="wp-caption-text">India cricketer Mohammed Shami (R) is congratulated by teammates. (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Mohammad Shami is most likely to be the specialist pacer in the team if Kohli decides to go with 3 spinners. Shami is deadly to deal with when the ball is reverse swinging. He bowled a hostile spell of fast bowling against New Zealand in the 2nd Test at Kolkata. His efforts saw the visitors unable to cope up with the reverse swing.</p>
<p>Up front, he is accurate with his line and lengths and thus keeps things tight with the new ball. If England are to find success on the tour, they need to see off the pace and aggression of Mohammad Shami. Shami remains to be one of the top players to watch out for in the series.</p>

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