Former India cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has included both Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair in his playing XI for the 1st Test against England. Shubman Gill and co. will kick start their fresh World Test Championship cycle on June 10 at Headingley in Leeds. Ahead of the Test, Ashwin named his playing XI, the highest run-getter and wicket-taker for the series.
Ashwin’s playing XI for 1st Test
KL Rahul
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Sai Sudharsan
Shubman Gill (C)
Karun Nair
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Shardul Thakur
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj
Prasidh Krishna
Ashwin picked Sai Sudharsan as his number three batter in the line-up. It is pertinent to point out that vice-captain Pant on Wednesday had said that while number 3 remains undecided, Gill will bat at number 4 and he will stick to number 5.
The former Indian spinner reckoned that for number 6, it could be a toss up between Karun and an in-form Dhruv Jurel. He pointed out that while Nair’s form cannot be ignored, the keeper-batter could very well be in the mix to make it to the playing XI for the 1st Test.
Further, he also backed the inclusion of Shardul in the line-up, pointing out that India had a lack of fast-bowling options when Bumrah broke down in Australia. Thakur’s inclusion means Ashwin left out Nitish Kumar Reddy from his playing XI.
Chris Woakes highest wicket taker
Ashwin reckoned that England’s Chris Woakes could end up being the highest wicket-taker in the series if he plays all the five matches. For India, he opined that Siraj will top the charts since Bumrah will not be playing all five Tests.
As for the highest run-getter, he picked Rishabh Pant over KL Rahul as his choice. Ashwin claimed that since Rahul was opening the innings, there were chances that he might suffer some first innings glitches.
“Have to go with KL Rahul as the leading run-scorer, but because he is opening the batting, he might have a few first innings glitches. So, I will go with Rishabh Pant instead. Rishabh can only get himself out,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
