ENG vs IND: 3 surprise picks in India's Test squad

BCCI have announced their 17-man squad for the 5th Test against England postponed from last September. Most of the players picked for the initial tour have retained their place while Ajinkya Rahane misses out with a hamstring injury sustained in IPL 2022.

Pacers Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur had important contributions in the first four test matches last year and will be looking to repeat the same. Openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul did well to keep Stuart Broad and James Anderson at bay. Moreover, Shubhman Gill is also back after missing the Test series against Sri Lanka due to injury issues. Hence, Team India looks sorted in most departments. Meanwhile, there are few debatable selections based on form and English conditions.

Here is a list of 3 surprise picks in the squad for the upcoming series:

1. Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh made a bright start to international cricket picking 18 wickets in seven ODIs he has played so far. He is yet to make his Test debut though and is unlikely to do so either in a one-off Test in England.

India will mostly field a pace quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Siraj, and Thakur with conditions expected to be overcast in July. Meanwhile, the visitors could have done with another specialist swing bowler in Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Prasidh has been bowling decently in the ongoing IPL, picking 15 wickets in the group phase. However, Test cricket is a different kettle of fish though he must look to pick the brains of Bumrah and co when he travels with the team to the UK.