India Playing XI vs ENG: No Ashwin, Rohit sticks to Shami-Siraj vs England

There will be no Ravichandran Ashwin in India Playing XI in Lucknow as Rohit Sharma has stuck to the winning combination. Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj both feature along with Suryakumar Yadav. With Hardik Pandya ruled out, Rohit has been forced to play with five bowlers and six pure batters in the IND vs ENG Cricket World Cup clash.

In Hardik Pandya’s absence, India had to split batting and bowling. Mohammad Shami came in as a bowler and Suryakumar Yadav replaced Hardik as the batter.

“Looks like a good pitch, it’s a new surface which has been relayed here. It has played well for the 100 overs. I mean it’s quite important to think like that but it’s important to get the two points. We have played some good cricket. It’s always good to have a break. It’s nice to come back here and get back into business. We are playing the same team we played in the last game,” Rohit Sharma said at the toss.

There have been concerns around the pitch whether it would have the same turn as it had offered before. But as it seems, it is not as spin-friendly to unleash Ravichandran Ashwin.

It’s not as dry and it’s not as grassy to take a call on. And that is why, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid have decided to go with two spinners.

IND vs ENG Bowling Combination

• Having bagged a fifer against New Zealand, Mohammad Shami has kept his place.
• And that means, even though India would want the extra spin cushion, there is no place for Ashwin in India Playing XI vs ENG.
• Rohit has retained the pace trio and there is a possibility of Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bowl at least an over each.
• It has not happened before and it is unlikely. But at Lucknow nets, Virat Kohli did bowl for a considerable amount of time. And so did Rohit in Dharamshala nets.

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In the batting department, there is not much to change. The Top 5 is fit and ready to go. Shubman Gill will open with Rohit Sharma while Virat Kohli, who is chasing a record-equalling 49th ton, will be at No 3. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will occupy No 4 and No 5 spots. Suryakumar Yadav, if he keeps his place, will take the No 6 slot. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav will be the two designated spinners if there is no third spinner in the India Playing XI vs ENG.

India Playing XI vs ENG

1. Rohit Sharma (C)
2. Shubman Gill
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. KL Rahul (WK)
6. Suryakumar Yadav
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Kuldeep Yadav
9. Jasprit Bumrah
10. Mohammed Shami
11. Mohammed Siraj

India Squad for Cricket World Cup 2023

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav

WKs: Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (VC)

Seam all-rounders: Shardul Thakur

Spin all-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin

Seamers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Spinner: Kuldeep Yadav