Last Updated on 4 years ago by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: India possible playing 11 for 5th England Test | A look at India’s possible playing 11 for Edgbaston Test
India will be facing England at Edgbaston on 1st July for the decider Test of their incomplete series from last year. Hit by unavailability of key players like KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, architects of India’s promising performance vs England last year, a new-look team will take on this mounting challenge against a reinvigorated opposition.
In a very short span of time, the coach-captain duo of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have turned a new leaf in the way the team approaches red-ball cricket. England’s latest 3-0 clean sweep over New Zealand raised eyebrows not because of the result but because of the overpowering approach that they undertook to assert dominance throughout the series.
India will have its task cut out against this new-look English unit. But, the visitors definitely have the quality in their ranks to see through any possible obstacles that they face along the way.
India possible playing 11 for 5th Test vs England
On that note, let us take a look at India’s possible playing XI for the game at Edgbaston.
1. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill has recorded a meagre average of 19.83 in four Tests against England. His technique will be put to test by England’s new-ball pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. But Gill is India’s best bet to provide a solid start at the top under the present circumstances. He batted thrice during the warm-up games and will be edging to prove his mettle in the absence of his other seasoned teammates.
2. Cheteshwar Pujara
Rohit tested positive for Covid-19 again on Wednesday morning and that has now cast serious doubts over him featuring in this all-important Test. In case that he doesn’t, the team management might opt to bank on the experience of Cheteshwar Pujara to sail through the challenging opening hour or two with the bat. Pujara had a fruitful County stint in the last few months and looks to be in good touch to replace Rohit at the top of the order.
3. Hanuma Vihari
Hanuma Vihari has a half-century (56) to his name in the sole game that he played during India’s tour of England back in 2018. Vihari has been handed the various roles in the middle-order recently and he averages 41.33, 28.33 and 45.92 at numbers 3, 4 and 5 respectively. There is a high likelihood that he might be asked to bat at one-down if Pujara plays as an opener.
4. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli holds this Indian batting order together, regardless of whether he is the skipper or not. Having been one of India’s most successful batsmen in England, Kohli will have to take additional responsibility given the absence of KL and Rohit. He averages 34.55 with two centuries and five half-centuries in 15 Tests in England. His battle with Anderson will have a key role in determining the eventual outcome of this game.
5. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer has had a sparkling start to his Test career, having scored runs at an average of 55.43 with a century and three-half centuries in merely four games so far. Iyer hasn’t really been tested in overseas conditions yet but he has shown an innate ability to take on and win over serious challenges in his international career. The 27-year-old will have to tide over this task if India were to get a positive result out of this game.
6. Rishabh Pant (wk)
Rishabh Pant has arguably been in an erratic run of form in recent times. However, he will have to assume greater responsibility in a batting attack devoid of regular starters. Pant has scored a century and a half-century each in England but he averages only 23.53 in 15 innings in the country. It reflects a lack of consistency, which can possibly act as an impediment for India’s fortunes in this game.
7. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is back in the mix after a brief injury layoff and the Indian team will appreciate the balance that brings to the XI with him.
The southpaw will be expected to add solidity and flair to the lower-middle order and complement the pacers with his disciplined bowling approach. Jadeja has taken 23 wickets in 10 Tests in England and averages 45.60, 62.86, 41, 24.45 and 100 with the bat from 2018 to 2022 respectively. India will rely on him to deliver with the bat in the prevalent uncertain circumstances.
8. Shardul Thakur
There will be a toss-up between Ravichandran Ashwin and Shardul Thakur to take the number eight spot in the team. However, the latter has impressive performances in overseas conditions in recent times. The medium-pacer scored two half-centuries at an average of 39 in a couple of Tests in England last year. He also picked seven wickets with an average of 22. India will rely on his tendency to score key runs lower down the order in the presence of a weakened batting lineup.
9. Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami will be spearheading the pace attack in the hope of rounding up an excellent show in this very series in 2021. The fast-bowler has taken 36 wickets in 12 Tests in England over the years. His sublime skills have been paramount to the team’s success in all conditions and the management will be harbouring high hopes from the seasoned pacer yet again this time around.
10. Jasprit Bumrah (C)
In addition to being the leading pacer, Jasprit Bumrah will most likely even lead India in this important Test match. Bumrah has been a revelation in England in the last two tours, having taken 32 wickets in eight games in total. He even has a couple of five-wicket hauls to his name but it will be interesting to observe the way he handles his captaincy and bowling responsibilities simultaneously.
11. Mohammed Siraj
India will have to make a choice amongst Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Umesh Yadav for the role of the third frontline pacer. Yadav has a tendency to be a bit wayward at times and it will be arguably harsh to throw Prasidh into the deep-sea straightaway for his debut game. Siraj hasn’t been in the best of forms recently but he was instrumental in helping India take a 2-1 lead in the series. Siraj had taken 14 wickets in four games in England in 2021 and the think-tank might back him to get back to his best in this match as well.
