We are just four days away from one of the biggest series this year and the excitement only makes you more eager.
This will not only be one of the biggest test series this year but it also holds a lot of value as to how the future of both these nations will hold, be it in terms of selection or performances. Check out India's best playing XI for the test matches against England, here.
Preparations for #ENGvIND series 👌
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 31, 2021
Learning from #TeamIndia seniors 👍
Fond memories of 2018 England tour 👏
Ahead of the England Tests, @RishabhPant17 reflects on his cricket journey & more 😎 - by @RajalArora
Watch the full interview 🎥 🔽https://t.co/BKsuDS3afT pic.twitter.com/QFEVW3I69h
Today, Cricwizz brings to you five Indian players that we could look out for in this 5-match series.
1) Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli will have a test to pass, not just as a captain but also as a batsman. One of India's greatest batsmen ever, Virat Kohli hasn't been at his best for some years now.
Poor form doesn't change his importance in the team or his credibility too, but India would want to see one of their most experienced batsmen step up in England, a country where India haven't been the best with their bat in red-ball cricket.
Kohli hasn't managed to fire a ton since November 2019, when he scored his last one against Bangladesh in India's first-ever pink ball test.
However, Kohli's record is just phenomenal for any player in the world and we would hope that he gets back to his best soon. Let's have a look at Kohli's test statistics.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s/100s/200s | Highest Score |
| 92 | 7547 | 52.05 | 56.86 | 25/27/7 | 254 |
This series would be very important for Kohli-the batsman. Will he come out stronger like he always does?
Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara has been India's constant on the test side for quite a time now. However, his performances recently have put him under the scanner. Especially after the World Test Championship Final, a lot of questions have been raised on Pujara.
Not that they would affect his place in the squad now but a poor form in a five-match test series could call trouble and Pujara may be one of the players who may lose his spot to other players, youngsters who are already showing potential.
Pujara's record in tests and England are good enough but his recent form is the one that puts him under doubt. His ability to slow down the game, staying on the crease is commendable but that approach backfires when he fails to convert with numbers after settling in with a lot of balls played already. Pujara has been extraordinary in test cricket.
This series will be important for him and hopefully, he would remind the world why he has been in India's top-order for a long time.
Let's see Pujara's numbers in test cricket
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s/100s/200s | Highest Score |
| 86 | 6267 | 46.08 | 44.64 | 29/18/3 | 206 |
Ajinkya Rahane
Similar to Pujara, Rahane hasn't been in a great form either. The fact that he starts almost every innings beautifully, we often witness him losing his wicket due to errors caused by himself and not the bowler.
The pattern has been recurring for a while now, and it's high that he is questioned as we have the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and also a fit Shikhar Dhawan who could open, and eventually push KL Rahul/Mayank Agarwal at his position.
The short ball has also been a concern for him and the English bowlers would be wary of that. It will be intriguing to see how Rahane deals with the short deliveries and also on converting the 30s to 50s and 100s.
Let's have a look at Rahane's numbers.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s/100s/200s | Highest Score |
| 74 | 4647 | 41.12 | 49.64 | 23/12/0 | 188 |
Since both Rahane and Pujara have been under the scanner for a while now. Have a look at the comparison between the two and let us know which batsman is in the pecking order to lose his place on the side
KL Rahul
After a great display in the 3-day warm-up match, KL Rahul will have a lot on the line to cement his spot in India's test 11. He has a lot of contenders and he will also need some luck on his side as India has been surviving pretty well in Test Cricket since his debut.
His position in the team as a wicket-keeper is also not probable as Rishabh Pant is unlikely to be replaced, considering his heroics in Australia and with the kind of potential Pant has shown in red-ball cricket.
If KL Rahul is played in this series, which seems evident at some or the other point, the position at which he will be batting is also in question.
Only KL Rahul knows best as to which position is likely to help him produce the numbers. However, in a recent interview, KL Rahul revealed that he is happy to let Mayank Agarwal open the innings and also the fact that he can bat wherever the team wants him to bat.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s/100s/200s | Highest Score |
| 36 | 2006 | 34.59 | 56.46 | 11/5/0 | 199 |
Where would you like him to bat?
Jasprit Bumrah
Another player who has a very important set of tests ahead but this time a bowler and not just a bowler but India's best when the limited-overs are concerned.
Bumrah started brilliantly in his test career but things have changed since then. He still has a fantabulous record to boast in the few tests he's played but his impact in the games has started to fade away.
He is undoubtedly an economical bowler but he is more malignant in the limited-overs format than the tests, and with Mohammad Siraj's performance in Australia, Bumrah will have to deliver in this series.
Let's have a look at Bumrah's test record to date.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Wicket hauls (5/10) | Best Bowling Figures |
| 20 | 83 | 23.22 | 2.69 | 1/0 | 9/86 |
Apart from these five players, there is one more player who we would be eager to watch. He's none other than Ravindra Jadeja.
The reason is that Jadeja was usually picked in the team as a bowling all-rounder but now we see his batting prowess come in handy more than his bowling. In India's recent test matches, we haven't seen Jadeja with the ball much. It will be interesting to see how he turns up in this series.
Any other players you feel would make this list? Let us know via our social media accounts. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for more updates.
Stay tuned.
