Eyeing their first Test series in England in 14 years, India will begin their five-match duel with the opening clash against Joe Root’s team in Nottingham, starting August 4.
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Four Wisden writers predict the XI for the series opener.
Ben Gardner, Wisden.com managing editor
There’s no need to overcomplicate this, but there’s plenty of temptation to. With both the first and second choice openers injured, the thought of pushing Cheteshwar Pujara up to face the new ball is tempting, as is crafting Hanuma Vihari into a makeshift option. Down the order, two spinners might feel like too many, and Mohammad Siraj surely will have a role to play at some point.
But India should stick to what they know. Pick the batsman with five tons atop the order, with the most recent of those coming in England, to allow the rest of the line-up to bat in the positions in which they have established their greatness. Pick the No.7 who averages 52.60 in the last three years, and invariably contributes in at least one facet. And pick your most established seamers, including sticking with Jasprit Bumrah, backing him to rediscover the form which made him one of the world’s most feared fast bowlers. It’s a team which should win comfortably.
Aadya Sharma, Wisden India editor
KL Rahul replaces the injured Mayank Agarwal, my first choice, having opened for India extensively in the past (scoring a fighting hundred in England the last time). From three to five, the trio of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane keep their usual spots, with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja adding teeth to the batting down the order. In a series as important as this, R Ashwin’s game-turning abilities can’t be ignored.
To begin the series, India should trust their reliable trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, similar to their World Test Championship final combination; Bumrah has looked off colour in recent times, but a player of his calibre has had enough time over the past two months to have sorted out his game.
Rohit Sankar, Wisden India staff writer
With Mayank Agarwal also ruled out, Cheteshwar Pujara will be my choice to open the batting. Rahul will still pip Rahane to the XI for me, purely based on how Rahane has looked off in recent times and Rahul, despite playing very limited first-class matches, has potential on paper to be persisted with for the long run.
Vihari had an ordinary county season, but batted at No.3 and has previously batted in the top-order for India and state. He will slot in at No.3 with Pujara opening. While there have been suggestions to move Virat Kohli to No.3, I would like to see India just stick to Kohli at 4 and build the rest of the batting line-up around him.
The pacers will likely be rotated through the series, and India will want a peek at Mohammed Siraj in England early on before settling on their best three quicks for the condition. As such, he edges Shami in my XI. Both spinners fit into the team too.
Sarah Waris, Wisden India staff writer
For the opening role, I’ve gone with Hanuma Vihari alongside Rohit. Vihari has done well in tough conditions in the past, and it would be unfair to have KL Rahul, who has not played Test cricket of late, to get selected based on just one innings in the warm-up game.
I’ll back Rahane to do the job for India, though it’s evident that time is running out. He has plenty of experience and has played clutch knocks in the past, and his credentials help him keep his spot in the XI.
I’m unsure of Jadeja as playing two spinners might backfire, but he’s the only other batter currently with an average of 30 in England, so he sneaks in due to his batting contributions. Shami, Bumrah and Ishant are the three quick for obvious reasons, while Ashwin, according to me, is the best spinner currently.
