India’s Predicted Playing XI For 1st Test vs England at Hyderabad: No Virat Kohli; Shreyas Iyer Likely to Play at No. 4

Hyderabad: In what must have come as a major setback for the Indian team preparing for the five-match Test series against England, premier batter Virat Kohli opted out of the first two Tests. So now, who plays at No. 4? Looks like, Shreyas Iyer in all probability will take that spot. Without a doubt, on home soil, India would start favourites. So, what will be the playing XI for the opening Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Hyderabad?

India captain Rohit Sharma would open with young Yashasvi Jaiswal. At No. 3, you would see another young gun in Shubman Gill. With the to three done, Shreyas Iyer would slot in at No. 4 in the absence of Kohli. KL Rahul may play as a pure batter at No. 5. With KS Bharat and Dhruv Jurel in the squad, there could be a toss-up between the two for the wicketkeeper’s slot. Bharat, given his current run of form, may edge Jurel to the XI.

Then comes the spin-allrounders in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The two pacers for the Tests are likely to be Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj with Kuldeep Yadav featuring as the specialist spinner.

India’s Predicted Playing XI For 1st Test vs England: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, KS Bharat, R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Bumrah, Md. Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav

India squad for first two Tests against England: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-capt), Avesh Khan