Xtra Time Web Desk: In a bid to prepare well for the upcoming five match test series against England, Virat Kohli led Indian team will be playing a three day practice match against County Select XI at Emirates Riverside from Tuesday. The Indian team has been training at the county ground since reaching Durham on July 15.
KL Rahul will keep wickets in the practice game due to the unavailability of two regular wicketkeepers in the squad Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman Saha. Pant, who tested positive for Covid-19 during the three-week break after the World Test Championship final, is yet to join the team’s bio-bubble after spending time in isolation while Saha is still in isolation in London after coming in close contacts with throw down specialist Dayanand Garani.
As far as the opening combination for the practice game is concerned, Mayank Agarwal is all set to partner Rohit Sharma. The other opener in the touring party Shubman Gill is already ruled out of the series due to an injury. It is highly unlikely Rahul will open the batting as he will be playing as a wicketkeeper.
Cheteshwar Pujara will keep his place in the side at No 3. The dependable batsman came in for a lot of criticism for his slow batting in the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand at Southampton. Indian captain Virat Kohli and vice captain Ajinkya Rahane will be the No 4 & 5 batsman followed by Hanuma Vihari at No 6. Ace off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will go in at No 7. Ashwin is coming after a brilliant stint with Surrey in the County Championship game against Somerset. He picked 7 wickets in the match including a fifer in the second innings. It will be interesting if Ravindra Jadeja is picked as the team management would want to try Hanuma Vihari in the middle.
The fast bowling department will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. The fight for the third pacer will be between Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj. If the team management decides to go in with four pacers then both will get an opportunity to play. Shardul Thakur can also be a fast bowling option for the visitors.
This is India’s only warm-up ahead of the five-Test series against England that begins on August 4 in Nottingham.
India XI: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari/Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami,Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma
County Select XI squad: Will Rhodes (Warwickshire – captain), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Tom Aspinwell (Lancashire), Ethan Bamber (Middlesex), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Jack Carson (Sussex), Zak Chappell (Nottinghamshire), Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire), Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), Jake Libby (Worcestershire), Craig Miles (Warwickshire), Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), James Rew (Somerset), Rob Yates (Warwickshire).