England vs India 2022: 5th Test Best Predicted Playing 11 for Team India

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to open as we look at the strongest predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 5th Test vs England. 

Team India’s most of the squad members that shall play the pending 5th Test match vs England are currently taking a break from international cricket. The exhaustive IPL, which the Indian players don’t miss has taken a toll on a lot of senior pros. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and others have rested. However, the young guns like Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer are playing the T20Is vs SA.

The 5th Test match which happens to be a continuation of the Test Series that couldn’t get completed due to the COVID-19 breakdown last year shall be played from July 1 to July 5, 2022 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. India are currently leading the Test series 2-1, and are eyeing a historic Test series win in England; their first since 2007.

From the squad standpoint for Team India, a full-strength squad has been named with Rohit Sharma captaining India for the first time in England and KL Rahul being his deputy. However, groin injury concerns for KL Rahul still loom over his participation in the one-off Test match. It is understood that KL Rahul may take a few more weeks to recover, and hence may not be in contention for the Test match.

So, with a few more weeks to go, and assuming the rest of the players are fit and fine, let’s look at the strongest predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 5th Test match vs England. Before that, let’s quickly skim through the official squad and key match details.

India vs England 2022 – 5th Test Official Squad for Team India: 

Batters: Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihrai, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill & Virat Kohli

Wks: KS Bharat & Rishabh Pant 

All-rounders: Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja & Shardul Thakur

Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna & Umesh Yadav 

Coach: Rahul Dravid // Captain: Rohit Sharma // Vice-captain: KL Rahul

Match Details:

Tournament: India Tour of England 2022 

Type: Test Series – 5th Test Match

Where: Edgbaston, Birmingham

When: July 1-5, 3:30 pm IST

Playing 11 for Team India:

Openers: Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill

Ideally, with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, both being fit, the Captain and Vice-captain of India should have played as the first-choice openers. But with KL Rahul’s participation doubtful due to prolonged Groin injury, Shubman Gill looks the best candidate to open alongside Rohit Sharma for the 5th Test match. Gill was in fine touch in the IPL, and he could be useful for India to provide good starts. 

However, India can also opt to play the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara as an opener alongside Rohit Sharma. Ideally, Pujara should be playing at the number 3 position. But with Hanuma Vihari, who did well in that position expected to play there, Opening remains the only position Pujara can play. His recent county form could come in handy if ever India decide to go this route.

Middle-order: Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli & Shreyas Iyer

Coming to the middle-order, India should play the same trio that played vs Sri Lanka in the last Test series at home. Except for Kohli, both Vihari and Iyer did well in the Test series, and that should give Team India the confidence to continue with them for the one-off Test match. Even as Pujara makes a comeback with good form under his belt, it would be unfair to drop any of these just because Pujara scored well in the county season. 

Meanwhile, all eyes would be on Virat Kohli, who has looked woeful since 2020 with 0 centuries to his name during this period. Even as Virat Kohli’s current form looked bad as seen in IPL, a change of format can bring fortunes for him. Also, given the fighter Virat Kohli is, expect him to make a mark in the two innings he shall play at Edgbaston.

Lower-order: Rishabh Pant & Ravindra Jadeja

The lower-order shall once again see India play Rishabh Pant as the first-choice keeper and Ravindra Jadeja as the first-choice all-rounder. This is the template Team India had followed last year in the England series. While Ashwin’s batting has improved considerably, Jaddu shall still play as the first-choice all-rounder unless he doesn’t recover from the injury. 

Bowlers: Sharduk Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah & Mohammed Siraj

Coming to the bowlers, India shall mostly field the quartet of Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. However, Team India can still debate on including in-form Umesh Yadav for Mohammed Siraj; both having contrasting returns in the recently concluded IPL 2022. Additionally, Team India can also think of playing 3 pacers and Ashwin, but the move looks unlikely in England. 

Meanwhile, responsibilities shall once again lie on the two Frontline pacers for Team India, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Shami’s swing and Bumrah’s off-the-pitch movement shall be very crucial with the new ball to get early wickets. If India have to win the historic Test series, the form for these two shall be very crucial.

India vs England 2022: 5th Test Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Team India

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah & Mohammed Siraj

So, that completes the strongest predicted playing 11 for Team India for the 5th Test match vs England. Except for 2 positions for opening and 4th bowler, the rest 9 players select for themselves. India would still be hoping for KL Rahul to recover from the injury as his presence shall be crucial.

Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Team India for the 2022 5th Test Match vs England? Please email your comments to business@cricalytics.com

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