4 Indian players who might not feature in the playing eleven for the first test

3) Shardul Thakur (Pacer)

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur, who has so far played seven T20s and four ODIs for the Men in Blue was instrumental in Chennai Super Kings' title win at this year's IPL with 16 wickets in 13 matches. But, the lanky pacer from Maharashtra is yet to play a red-ball game for Team India.

Though he was present in the Indian squad for the historic one-off test against Afghanistan at Bengaluru last month, he did not break into the playing eleven. Thakur, who was a part of the India's ODI squad against England, played the third and final game of the series at Headingley, Leeds in which he scored 22*(13) and finished with figures of 1/51.

The return of pacer Mohammad Shami might hinder his chances of getting into the eleven. With three front line pacers (Umesh Yadav, Shami and Ishant Sharma) and all-rounder Hardik Pandya already in the squad, Thakur might be confined to the bench.