IND vs ENG 1st Test Live: KL Rahul to open with Rohit Sharma

IND vs ENG 1st Test Live: KL Rahul to open with Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja replaces R Ashwin as only; Shardul Thakur in ahead of Ishant Sharma – Team India announce playing XI for the first Test as England win the toss and opt to bat first here at the Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Wednesday. KL Rahul will be opening the batting with Rohit Sharma while Shardul Thakur has been picked as the fourth seamer, Ravindra Jadeja is the only spinner in India’s bowling attack.

Also Read: India Playing XI for 1st Test: Virat Kohli keeps England in suspense, declares ‘We will disclose Playing XI only today’ – Follow Live Updates

IND vs ENG 1st Test Live: Only one spinner

India played three pacers and two spinners in the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand at Southampton. India played Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah along with two spin bowling all-rounders in R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The plan backfired as New Zealand on the other hand did not play a single spin bowler and were able to take full advantage of the swinging conditions to take 20 Indian wickets in the game.

Also Read: India vs England: Ajinkya Rahane aims series in England, declares ‘I’m fully fit, ready to go against England’

IND vs ENG 1st Test Live: KL Rahul as opener

With the experience of batting in England, No other opener is available and a century in the practice match KL Rahul will open the batting for India. Earlier, Indian team mangement made it clear that KL Rahul will be an option in the middle order and not as an opener. But with the injury India had to open with KL Rahul.

KL Rahul scored a century for the Indians in the three-day warm-up game against County Select XI. The batting line-up failed but Rahul along with Ravindra Jadeja was the shining light in the first innings. KL Rahul has scored a century as an opener in England against England in 2018. (India vs England)

IND vs ENG 1st Test Live: KL Rahul as an opener

Matches – 35

Runs – 1915

Average – 35.82

Century – 5

Fifty – 10

We win the toss and will bat first! 🏏

COME ON ENGLAND! 🦁🦁🦁

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 4, 2021

IND vs ENG 1st Test Live: Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder

Team India does not have a proper fast bowling all-rounder as Hardik Pandya is not in the squad. India can go back to Shardul Thakur who played a magnificent innings at Gabba during the India tour of Australia which helped India seal the series. After this innings of 67, many cricket experts suggested that he should be kept in the Indian team in place of Hardik Pandya. In this game at Gabba, he picked up seven wickets to help India clinch the series. Now it will be interesting to see how he performs in England

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

England (Playing XI): Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root(c), Jonny Bairstow, Daniel Lawrence, Jos Buttler(w), Sam Curran, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson