India vs England: India’s predicted XI for the Lord’s Test match

After the loss in Edgbaston, the Indian team now find themselves back to the drawing board. Yes, the match was closely fought, and yes, the Indian team had their moments, but then they did not capitalise on the crucial moments which allowed the hosts to slam the door shut on Kohli’s men.

There were a few concerns with the playing XI and in the aftermath of the first Test, there have been plenty of suggestions doing the rounds which revolve around India making changes to their arsenal.

We take a look at the predicted XI, the team which Virat Kohli should lead at Lord’s.

Murali Vijay

He was India’s best batsman back in 2014, but for some reason, the calm of Vijay seems to have deserted him as he now looks to go after balls outside the off stump. This has caused his downfall and has exposed the middle order to the new ball.

If India have to be successful, Vijay has to shoulder more responsibility and has to see off the new ball.

KL Rahul

He did not look entirely promising against the moving ball in Edgbaston, but KL Rahul deserves a longer rope at the top of the order in this format.

He should slide up the order and should replace Shikhar Dhawan, who unfortunately has to sit out.

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Cheteshwar Pujara

When he was omitted in the first Test match, there were eyebrows raised, but then there was merit to the selection. Pujara struggled for Yorkshire in the previous months and did not look too convincing in the practice match versus Essex.

However, his stocks have risen, primarily because he has the ability to enter his bubble and not leave it. He can put away all the strokes and can grind opposition down, a trait which is needed in this Indian batting line-up.

Virat Kohli

If this series was labelled as the final frontier, Virat Kohli, the batsman has stamped his class all over it and we are just through the first match. His 149 in the first innings will always be remembered as one of the best innings played in English conditions.

The captain now needs to step up and the leader should now look to drag his side across the finishing line.

Ajinkya Rahane

He is back at the venue where he scripted an amazing century which not only stunned the English attack on a green strip masquerading as a pitch but also propelled Ishant Sharma and the rest of the bowlers to get the job done and shove away the visitors.

However, he is not in best of touches and looks out of sorts, but then he needs one good hour at the wicket which should get him going. The vice-captain needs to pull up his socks and assist the skipper. For, India need their batting nucleus playing the same tune.

Dinesh Karthik

He has had a stop-start career so far, forever played under the shadow of MS Dhoni, but now Dinesh Karthik is India’s wicket-keeper batsman on this tour, and he should pounce at the opportunities.

He was jittery in the first Test, never quite confident behind the stumps and even shelled a couple of chances. And, then with the bat, he was all over the shop in the first innings.

Although he did fight his way back in the second innings, his dismissal in the first over of the fourth morning sucked out all momentum away from the visitors.

Hardik Pandya

He did not bowl enough in Edgbaston, looked quite decent with the bat in the second innings, but Hardik Pandya has been facing a lot of flak and people are even questioning his merit in the side.

However, Virat Kohli trusts him and this could well mean, he will be part of the team at Lord’s. How Kohli uses him with the ball and Hardik turns up with the bat could well determine his participation for the rest of the series.

Ravichandran Ashwin

He got the ball in the first hour in Edgbaston and snaked one past the edge of Alastair Cook to set the tone of what would turn out to be a fantastic match for the off-spinner.

He picked up seven wickets in the match, which are his best returns outside the sub-continent and against an England side which is packed with left-handers he should be quite a handful in Lord’s.

Also, Ashwin the batsman should do a lot more with the bat as these lower order runs goes a lot way in determining the eventual result of the match.

Ishant Sharma

He breathed fire in the second innings, smacked the middle order of England team and tore them apart. He was the best Indian bowler on display and now the pressure is on him to carry this forward.

Back at the venue where he picked up seven wickets to bring home an amazing victory for India in 2014, Ishant needs to be the spearhead of the bowling attack.

Kuldeep Yadav

London has been invaded with a heat wave, the pitch should be dry, the square will be bereft of any moisture and considering England’s trouble against the spinning ball, Kuldeep Yadav looks all set to make an appearance.

He edges out Ravindra Jadeja primarily because he spins the ball both ways, and the England batting were all at sea in the limited-overs leg.

Mohammed Shami

He blew hot and cold at Edgbaston, but Mohammed Shami can turn it around in any spell and has the ability to run through sides.

Also, with the pitch and square expected to be abrasive, reverse swing will be a big factor and Shami will once again hold the aces for Kohli.

First Published: Aug 08, 2018 13:41 IST