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England vs India Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES, 1st Test: Gill to unveil India's XI at 3 PM IST today
1st Test | IND vs ENG Playing 11 LIVE: It is going to be a toss up between Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan for the number 3 batting position.
New Delhi
As Shubman Gill's era begins in Indian cricket, in his first assignment—India vs England 1st Test—as captain, all eyes are on India's Playing 11 at Headingley in Leeds today. Gill will come out for the toss at 3 PM, according to Indian Standard Time (IST), and Indian fans will be eagerly waiting to check the Playing 11.
After India's leadership group—Rishabh Pant and Gill—already explained their batting positions, it remains to be seen who will bat at the crucial number 3 spot in Leeds.
India Playing 11 prediction for 1st Test vs England
All indications suggest that Karun Nair will make a long-awaited return to India's Test XI, batting at No. 3 in the absence of veterans Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. If confirmed, it will be Nair's first appearance in the format since 2017.
The final call for the No. 6 slot is expected to favour Nitish Reddy over Sai Sudharsan, with Reddy's all-round abilities proving valuable during training sessions. Shardul Thakur is likely to slot in at No. 8, rounding out a four-pronged pace attack that includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
India Probable XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
England Playing 11 for 1st Test vs India
England named their playing XI two days before the start of Leeds Test, opting for continuity and pace. Vice-captain Ollie Pope has been retained at the crucial No. 3 slot ahead of youngster Jacob Bethell, while Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue will lead the pace duties.
England's line-up also features Chris Woakes in the lower order, giving them valuable all-round depth, and Jamie Smith as the designated wicketkeeper-batter at No. 7. The spin role will be handled by Shoaib Bashir, with Ben Stokes leading the side.
12:40 PM
India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: India's pace attack!
Team India will feature pacer Jasprit Bumrah leading the pace attack, with Mohd Siraj and Prasidh Krishna likely to be the ones to join him in the attack. Both pacers will have to contribute well and help Bumrah to get wickets at regular intervals so that Bumrah doesn't get isolated like he did at times in Australia.
12:24 PM
India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Will Indian batters step up to the task?
Despite of not having experienced batters like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in their line-up, the Indian batting order, who are not being considered as one to impress in England, have multiple players who could surprise everyone with their abilities going into the 5-match Test series. Sai Sudharshan, and an experienced Karun Nair who is coming into the 1st Test on the back of a double hundred against the England A side could leave the bowlers gasping for air on the day as well.
12:06 PM
India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: Will India pick Kuldeep as second spinner?
There has been great speculation that India might go with two spinners in the Leeds Test given the hot weather conditions. However, India legend Sachin Tendulkar suggests, before the start of the match, that a team should pick two spinners in the Playing 11 only if there is no grass on the pitch.
11:31 AM
Hope both of us play together for long: KL Rahul lauds childhood buddy Karun Nair's resolve
Nair's resilience earns praise
Senior Indian batter KL Rahul has expressed his delight at Karun Nair's return to the Test squad for the five-match series against England, starting Friday. The duo, childhood friends and long-time teammates, first played together as 11-year-olds. While Rahul remained a regular in the national set-up, Nair faced an eight-year exile despite scoring a memorable triple century against England early in his career.
A Journey of grit and determination
Rahul credited Nair's recent domestic performances and ability to "go back to basics" for his selection. 'What has stood out is the way he has performed in the last 2-3 years,' Rahul said, highlighting Nair's work in the county circuit and his resilience through tough phases.
Rahul confident of India's preparations
The right-handed batter also spoke about his own preparation, which began immediately after the IPL. Acknowledging the strength of the English side at home, Rahul admitted the young Indian team would face challenges but remained optimistic. 'It's going to be a challenge for all of us as we are a comparatively young team,' he said, backing Nair to shine in his much-awaited comeback.
10:40 AM
India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: What can be India's XI today?
New Order, New Uncertainty: India's XI Puzzle Ahead of Leeds Showdown
As Shubman Gill prepares to step into the void left by Virat Kohli at No. 4, and Rishabh Pant locks in at No. 5, the Indian batting order teeters on the edge of bold reinvention. With two spots—Nos. 3 and 6—still up for grabs, the team faces a tantalising selection dilemma.
A battle of five for two crucial spots
India must pick two from a diverse mix: Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and the uncapped B Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran. But there's precedent to push the envelope further. Recalling the audacity of the Australia tour, there remains a real possibility that India may back three from the group—two as specialist batters, and Reddy as the seam-bowling all-rounder.
Batting depth or bowling firepower?
If the think tank opts against bolstering the batting line-up, the No. 8 spot opens a different debate: Shardul Thakur's lower-order grit and medium pace versus Kuldeep Yadav's wrist-spin wizardry. The decision will shape not just the balance of the side but the tone of the series.
The pace core: No questions, only choices
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are all but inked in as the senior pacers. The third seamer's slot, however, remains open to strategic interpretation. Prasidh Krishna offers bounce and height, Akash Deep brings seam and discipline, while Arshdeep Singh's left-arm swing adds variety few can ignore.
9:41 AM
India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES: How India's number 3 batting position left vacant?
Batting at no. 4 was a shared call with Gambhir
Following Kohli's retirement from Test cricket, Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir jointly decided on Gill's role in the new batting order. 'We were both clear—he wanted me to bat at No. 4 and I also wanted to bat at that number,' Gill revealed at the pre-match press conference in Leeds.
9:23 AM
India vs England Playing 11 LIVE UPDATES
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