England vs India: Team India's predicted playing XI for Test series

The World Test Championship (WTC) Final didn’t go in the favour of India as they were comprehensively beaten by a well-oiled & in-form New Zealand side by 8 wickets on the last (reserve) day of the match. The Indian captain Virat Kohli seemed pretty disappointed with the loss & even said that a one-off Test to decide a 2.5-year tournament isn’t done.

He & his men will be geared up and motivated more than ever to defeat England in England, which is a herculean task by the way. India should be prepared for swinging conditions & green pitches that swing a lot as India prepared extensive spinning wickets when England toured them last year. So expect no mercy from the home side as well!

There have been many criticisms regarding the team selection in the WTC final. However, now is the time for certain players to get chances & fit into the niche role required as per the team.  Hence, let’s take a look at-

India’s probable XI for the England Test series

1. Rohit Sharma

This is a no-brainer pick. Some might argue that the Indian opener is just a white-ball player & home track bully in Tests but he was the only player to score 30+ runs in both innings of the WTC Final. These runs seem average but were very important so as to avoid a shaky start in the final.

His experience will be extremely useful in the middle to tackle the likes of James Anderson & Stuart Broad with the new ball. He is also a good slip catcher which is an essential skill to have especially in England where the ball comes & carries to the slip cordon more often than not.

He has proved time & again that he is a champion player, delivers under pressure most of the time and so should play all formats till he decides to retire.

2. Shubman Gill

A player who was the talk of the town after India won the U-19 World Cup in 2018 as he was the highest run-scorer for the team scoring 324 runs at a staggering average of 104, won player of the tournament as well, and is none other than Gill.

He has shown glimpses of his talent & what he can bring at the international level as he scored 2 fifties (50, 91) against Australia in Sydney & Brisbane, resulting in a tie & historic win respectively. However, his average is a mere 31.84 after 8 matches which is quite low for an Indian opener & a batsman of his talent.

He didn’t perform well in the WTC Final & so should be given a chance to redeem himself in the Test series vs England. The 21-year-old batsman from Punjab has a bright future ahead if he uses his talent & plays with the dedication to succeed at the international level.

3. Cheteshwar Pujara

Undoubtedly “The Wall” of the team & the architect of many successful run chase on the back of which India finished as runners-up in the WTC final. He has been the highest run-scorer for India against Australia in Australia in 2018 & 2020. (both of them resulting in historic victories)

Pujara has played the most balls in Test cricket for India in the current lot. This shows his paramount importance in this batting line-up. Critics say that he hasn’t scored a century since the 2018 series against Australia. However, he has scored various 50+ scores & has soaked in the pressure many times with the traditional Test match batting when the team was under the pump.

His low scores in both the innings & drop catch of Ross Taylor in the WTC final would’ve burned him from inside. He would be raring to wear out the English bowlers with his unique batting & win the series for his country.

4. Virat Kohli (c)

Undoubtedly Kohli is the world’s best batsman at the moment & one of the greats ever to have played the game. The passion & infectious energy he brings onto the table is one of the main reasons India has become the team to beat in all formats of the game.

His records speak for himself- 7547 runs at an average just above 52 with 27 hundreds (the most for any current player) is just impeccable. He would’ve been the most gutted for not winning the WTC final.

However, as he had said “If we win, cricket goes on & if we lose, cricket still goes on for us”, expect nothing apart from the sheer determination of bouncing back & being the No 1 Test side in the world from the Indian captain.

5. Ajinkya Rahane (vc)

A player with a very solid technique, the Indian vice-captain has been the highest run-scorer for India in the WTC scoring 1095 runs at a healthy average of 43.8.

He has shown his true grit many times, the latest was a classy century against Australia in Melbourne after a humiliating loss in Adelaide & led the team successfully after the departure of Virat Kohli for the birth of his first child.

Along with his classy batting, he is an exceptional slip catcher, especially to the spinners. Slip catching is going to be extremely crucial, maybe a fine line of winning & losing in the upcoming Test series vs England.

6. Rishabh Pant (wk)

One can argue why Rishabh Pant had to step out to Trent Boult to hit him for a massive six when India was under pressure but that’s just the way he plays- fearless. He had played the same way vs Australia in Sydney & Melbourne scoring 97 & 89* resulting in the famous 2-1 win against the mighty Aussies in their backyard.

Earlier, he used to be trolled for his wicket-keeping skills but now he has improved considerably & has become a player who can represent the country for more than 10 years & may even be the captain in the near future. He has had success in England before as well scoring 114 vs England at The Oval, the only century ever scored by an Indian wicket-keeper in the 4th innings of a Test match.

Be ready for an attacking style of play & “Come on Ash” with some cheeky sledges from behind the stumps throughout the tour from Rishabh Pant.

7. Ravi Ashwin

India’s best off-spinner as per stats with 413 wickets in 79 matches at an average of under 25, Ravi Ashwin is just mind-boggling. His batting is often underestimated. Mind you he has 2685 runs at an average just below 28 with 5 hundreds. Not bad at all for bowling all-rounder.

Unsurprisingly, he was also the highest wicket-taker in the WTC with 71 wickets in 14 matches. He was the joint highest wicket-taker for India in the WTC final with 4 wickets even in swing-friendly conditions.

All these facts show that he has the ability to succeed in any given conditions on any given pitch. He is a must in the playing 11 & the England batsmen should beware of the cunning off-spinner from Tamil Nadu.

8. Shardul Thakur

A surprise for you all right? However, if you closely analyze the game & India’s team structure, you would realize that he is probably the only missing piece in the Indian 11 in swinging conditions.

In a country where there is abundant talent but lacks the talent of producing quality fast bowling all-rounders, he is the best option for overseas conditions, especially this tour. He is a proper swing bowler, can swing with the new as well as the old ball & can bat lower down the order as well.

He has scored 67 runs & taken 7 wickets in the only Test match that he has played (he got injured in his debut match while bowling his 1st over only). This series can be an opportunity for Shardul Thakur to be part of the Test team more often than not in overseas conditions.

9. Mohammed Shami

The man who looked the most deadly in the WTC Final is a sure shot because of his ability to seam the new ball as well as reverse swing the old ball which may come in handy on this tour vs England.

He is one of the few bowlers in world cricket who gives in his 100% no matter what the result is going to be. He was the 2nd highest wicket-taker for India in the WTC with 40 wickets in 11 matches.

His seam presentation is the best in international cricket which will aid him a bit with a swing as well as high bounce- a recipe of a nightmare for batsmen.

10. Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma is the only out & out fast bowler who has played 100+ Test matches for India, that is a huge achievement in itself. With 306 wickets in his kitty, his experience of playing in England would be extremely handy.

He is the highest wicket-taker for India in England, taking 43 wickets. He was the highest wicket-taker for India vs England in the 2018 test series taking 18 wickets in 5 matches.

This makes the tall lanky 6 ft 5 inches fast bowler a tough customer to deal with and his ability to move upright in all five days of the game with the same vigour makes him a challenging bowler.

11. Jasprit Bumrah

The best white-ball bowler of India for a while now, Jasprit Bumrah has tasted success in Test cricket as well, taking 83 wickets in 20 matches. However, going wicketless was one of the major reasons for India not winning the WTC final.

With his unique action & short run-up, he troubles the world’s best batsmen quite easily. He would be infuriated that he was wicketless in the WTC final & would be raring to unleash himself onto England to win the Test series.

A cricket phrase will help you understand Bumrah’s mantra- From nose to Toes! (the ball can hit you anywhere at 145 km/h!)