India v England 1st Test – India Predicted XI

One of the most awaited series of this long home Test season for Team India is just about to kick off, England has landed and both the teams are ready to kick things off with the opener at Rajkot November 9 onwards. This is the first time England has traveled to India after their famous win here in 2011. The last time, the English managed to upset India, can they do it again?

England will be missing their spin duo of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann who bowled them to victory last time around. Though they are boosted by the comeback of James Anderson but he won’t be available for the first Test an inexperienced spin bowling attack will make life difficult for the British on this tour to India.

Team India, on the other hand, is mid-way through a cracking season at home under Virat Kohli whose new brand of Test cricket promises a lot. They will be looking to avenge the defeat they were served in 2011. India have their injury concerns in the batting department with KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma out of the series. Their bowling attack, however, is on a roll with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja leading the way.

This is the XI we expect the Indian team to field for the first Test:

1. Murali Vijay:

The rock solid and old school Indian opener Murali Vijay seals a spot for himself by default in the side. He has the big responsibility of scoring runs at the top of the order to set a platform for the middle order to capitalize on as both mainstream openers are injured.

Vijay is short of runs as well as he couldn’t contribute much in the last series and will look to make it count against the fairly inexperienced English attack. It will be an interesting contest between him and the oppening bowlers.

Also Watch: Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay lip-syncing the dialogue of ‘The Rock’