England vs India 2018: India's predicted playing XI for the first test against England

#4 Pacers

Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma

Mohammed Shami will have to put behind his personal issues.

Indian test spearhead, Mohammed Shami has had a shocking 2018 off the field which affected his performance in IPL 2018, thereby hampering his chances of returning back to India's ODI fold.

Shami even failed to clear the mandatory Yo-yo test to play the test match against Afghanistan. But, having cleared the Yo-yo test this time around, Shami will look to put behind his off-field and personal issues, and lead India's pace attack against the Englishmen in the test series, as Shami's superb performance with the ball is a key to India's success of winning the test series in England.

Umesh Yadav was confined to benches during India's last away test series against South Africa as Indian team management preferred Jasprit Bumrah ahead of him. But this time around with both Bumrah as well as Bhuvneshwar Kumar out due to injuries, Umesh Yadav is certain to be part of playing XI for the first test against England, which also gives him a chance to regain his place in the Indian test squad.

The third pacer in playing XI for first test against the England at Edgbaston is most probably going to be India's most experienced fast bowler Ishant Sharma. And, also the test series against England is going to be a crucial one for Ishant, as he has fallen down the pecking order to the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah for a place in the test playing XI.