England v India, 5th Test: India's probable playing XI

Karun Nair

Karun Nair

Kohli should bring in Nair in place of Pandya to strengthen his lower middle-order. Pandya has been average with the bat and has been sparsely used as a bowler in the last Test.

Nair needs no introduction as he is only the second Indian batsman to score a triple century in Tests after Virender Sehwag. He is an elegant stroke-maker and a gritty middle order batsman. Nair should feel at home in English conditions as he was captain of the India A side which was on a month-long tour to England in July.

Dinesh Karthik

Karthik deserves another chance

Dinesh Karthik is too good a batsman to be kept out of the playing eleven for long. He has a wealth of experience by his side. Moreover, with the experiment of playing Pant having failed miserably, India should revert to the old war-horse Karthik.

He can also be used as an opener and Rahul be shifted to the middle-order.

Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja in as the spinner

With Ashwin carrying an injury, India should not risk playing him in the fifth Test. Jadeja should play the role of the lone spinner in absence of Ashwin.

Apart from his left-arm spin, he can also contribute with the bat in the lower middle-order.