India vs England, 1st Test: KL Rahul starts ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara

Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul make the cut as England win the toss and bat first at Edgbaston

England win the toss and opt to bat first against India in the opening Test, KL Rahul gets the nod ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara as captain Virat Kohli goes for current form rather than Test calibre and records.

Having gained some momentum from the victory in the T20I series and the considerable challenge they mounted in the ODIs, India will be set to prove their doubters wrong and spoil England¿s 1000th Test match party with a victory in the first Test of the five-match series in Edgbaston.

From getting the correct opening pair on the pitch to negotiate the threat of Broad and Anderson, the middle order to build a solid innings, the pacers to rattle the English openers, to the combination of spin and pace, everything needs to be scrutinized thoroughly.

India have been handed a few setbacks, with pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar missing the first Test due to their respective injuries.

Regardless, having excelled everywhere else, Kohli will not only look to address the one aspect of his exceptional batting which has so far been found wanting, he will also be setting his eyes on becoming the exceptional leader which he will become by toppling a formidable England in home conditions.

India's Playing 11 at Edgbaston: 

Murali Vijay
Shikhar Dhawan
KL Rahul
Virat Kohli
Ajinkya Rahane
Dinesh Karthik
Hardik Pandya
R Ashwin
Mohamed Shami
Umesh Yadav
Ishant Sharma

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