Former India cricketer Wasim Akram has picked Team India's playing XI against England ahead of the first Test. He picked Rohit Sharma and youngster Shubman Gill as the opening pair.
Jaffer has multiple options for two spots and he feels the captain should take the call depending on combination and pitch in Chennai. He feels only one of the Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur should be picked as per the requirement.
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is likely to play his first home Test series. Bumrah, who made his debut on South Africa tour in 2018, hasn't featured in a Test series in India yet.
"India's Playing XI for 1st Test (imo): 1 Rohit 2 Gill 3 Pujara 4 Kohli 5 Rahane 6 Pant 7 Axar* 8 Ashwin 9 Kuldeep/Thakur 10 Ishant/Siraj 11 Bumrah. Question is about 2 spots depending on combination + pitch. What''s your XI? *Eng have huge weakness vs left-arm spin. #INDvENG," Jaffer tweeted.
Ishant Sharma is coming back from injury and there are high chances he may get included in the playing XI straight on his return.
Team India's squad for first two Tests: Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul (subject to fitness), Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel.
