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Gill Backed To Replace Kohli At 4; Nair In, No Kuldeep As Shastri Picks India's XI For Leeds Test

Debashis Sarangi

Shubman Gill and Ravi Shastri [Source: @SudiptoDoc, @CricCrazyJohns/X]Shubman Gill and Ravi Shastri [Source: @SudiptoDoc, @CricCrazyJohns/X]

Former cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has picked a robust playing XI for the visiting Indian side for their Test series opener against England at Headingely, Leeds. The talismanic all-rounder from Mumbai opened up on India's playing combination, with the Shubman Gill-led side set to take on the Englishmen in the much-awaited inaugural game on Friday. 

Ravi Shastri Keeps Gill At 4, Backs Karun Nair To Bat At 5

Speaking on the ICC Review, Ravi Shastri chose KL Rahul as Yashasvi Jaiswal's opening partner, highlighting the England tour's importance for the former. Further, he picked Tamil Nadu's promising talent Sai Sudharsan as India's number three, allotting the number four slot to skipper Shubman Gill after Virat Kohli's retirement. 

“It would be (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, and with him will be KL. Rahul, because I think this is a big tour for him. Three, I’ll go with the youngster, Sai Sudharsan. Whatever I’ve seen of him, he’s very impressive. This will be good exposure for him, this tour,” Shastri was quoted as saying by Express Sports.
“In all probability, depending on what current form is, it’ll be Karun Nair. He bats at five, it’s a long time since he played for India. Six will be (Rishabh) Pant," he added. 

Shastri Brings Shardul, Excludes Kuldeep From India's Playing XI

Speaking further, the legendary cricketer included Shardul Thakur in India's playing XI, explaining his competition with Nitish Reddy for a single spot.

The former India head coach also chose Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as India's frontline pacers, while urging the team to pick one between Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh. Thus, according to Shastri, India should field four seamers, including Thakur, and omit Kuldeep from their combination for the Leeds Test. 

"I would go with three fast bowlers, (plus) Shardul Thakur. I know it’ll be a tough one between Shardul and Nitish Reddy, but you have to see who bowls how much," Shastri stated.
"And the three fast bowlers would be, I would go with Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and of course Jasprit Bumrah. In Leeds, if it’s overcast and it’s cloudy, there might be the temptation of going with the left-armer Ashdeep Singh as well. So it will be Prasidh Krishna/Ashdeep but the other two will be Siraj and Bumrah,” he concluded. 

The first Test between India and England will be played at Headingley, followed by four subsequent matches at the iconic venues of Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford and Kennington Oval. 

Ravi Shastri's India XI For 1st Test vs England

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh/Prasidh Krishna