India predicted playing XI vs England, 1st Test: Will Rajat Patidar make his debut in Hyderabad?

India are slated to take on England in a five-match Test series beginning with the first Test in Hyderabad on Thursday. The hosts will be led by Rohit Sharma, and the squad includes a couple of new faces while retaining experienced all-rounders like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the squad.

India have in fact named a spin-heavy bowling attack, with Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar headline the four-man pace attack, with Mohammed Shami missing out as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

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Young promising wicketkeeper batter Dhruv Jurel has received his maiden senior India call-up after being named in the squad for the first two Tests. He is one of the three designated wicketkeepers in the squad, along with KS Bharat and KL Rahul, although head coach Rahul Dravid did confirm that KL Rahul would not keep wickets during the series.

That would mean a direct toss-up between Bharat and Jurel for a spot in the playing XI.

India will also be missing the services of Virat Kohli for the first two Tests, with the veteran batter opting out due to personal reasons. While the team management did consider opting for experienced players to replace Kohli, Rajat Patidar was called up to the squad instead. But, will Patidar make his Test debut in Hyderabad?

What could be India’s probable XI

Despite being named replacement for Virat Kohli, it remains to be seen if Rajat Patidar would make his Test debut in Hyderabad. With skipper Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal set to open once again, Shubman Gill will bat at the number three spot.

That means Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will occupy the fourth and fifth batting slots respectively, followed by KS Bharat, who could be the preferred wicketkeeping choice.

Then there are two all-rounders in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, both of them who are certainties for the Test given that the pitch is bound to offer turn as the match progresses.

India could also name a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav in that case, and could go ahead with a two-man pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

This all but means that Rajat Patidar would have to wait in order to make his Test debut. Patidar was recently in action for India ‘A’ in the unofficial Test series against England Lions. He scored 111 in the tour match against the Lions and followed it up with a knock of 151 in the first unofficial Test.

India probable XI: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, KS Bharat (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.