India vs England: Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul may not feature in first Test

Kuldeep Yadav and KL Rahul may miss 1st Test

India's middle-order stalwart Ajinkya Rahane stressed to the media here yesterday that left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav is the X-factor of the team through his limited-overs performances. But his subsequent remarks and clues from the net session showed that India will stick to the tested pair of Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja.

Mumbai-based batsman Ajinkya Rahane was quick to remind media persons that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm tweaker Ravindra Jadeja have done well for India. This was not the only hint provided over Kuldeep Yadav not making it in the final XI for tomorrow's opening Test of the five-match Pataudi Trophy.

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav during a practice session at Birmingham yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

At the nets, Kuldeep's body language was not all that great, something that may have been good for a player assured of his place in the starting line-up. On the other hand, Jadeja appeared more than just cheerful while batting and bowling.

Another player, who gave the impression that he would not be in the playing XI, was in-form batsman KL Rahul. The Karnataka man is versatile enough to open the innings or be part of the middle-order, but as of now, he will not make it in all likelihood. It is learnt, that India's XI is set and the only toss-up could be between pacers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav.

India's first Test against England starts on August 1 at Edgbaston

India's likely XI:
Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav/ Mohammed Shami.

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