Imagining a current Indian Test playing 11 without Rohit, Kohli, Ashwin and Jadeja

The Indian Test team is likely to go through a transition phase soon with some senior players on the wrong side of the 30s. Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (38) is the oldest of the lot. India captain Rohit Sharma is 37, while senior batter Virat Kohli and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja are both 36 years old.

Ashwin was the Player of the Series in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home. However, he struggled in the subsequent Tests against New Zealand, managing only nine wickets at an average of 41.22. As for Rohit and Kohli, both have been short of runs for a while now. Jadeja was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the series against the Kiwis but hasn't played against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

All four players have done a commendable job for the Indian team over the years. However, it might not be long before we see an Indian Test side without the four big names in it. On that note, we predict an Indian Test XI without Rohit, Kohli, Ashwin and Jadeja.

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Top-order: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill

Yashasvi Jaiswal (left) and KL Rahul (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Yashasvi Jaiswal has made a brilliant start to his career as a Test opener. After 16 matches, he has 1,592 runs to his name at an average of 54.89, with four hundreds and eight fifties. KL Rahul has been moved up and down the order but has tasted most success as an opener. Seven of his eight Test tons have come while opening the innings, four of them in SENA nations.

Shubman Gill can continue batting at No. 3 in the Test team. Three of his five centuries have come while batting at the one-down position. In 15 matches while batting at No. 3, the right-hander has scored 985 runs at an average of 41.04. Gill has looked good with the bat but needs to convert his starts into substantial scores a lot more consistently.

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Middle-order: Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan/ Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy/ Washington Sundar

Nitish Reddy has impressed with the bat in hand. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

Once Kohli quits the Test format, Shreyas Iyer should get another chance to prove his worth in red-ball cricket for India. He has had issues with the short ball, but there has never been any doubt about his talent. In 14 Tests so far, Shreyas has scored 811 runs at an average of 36.86, with one hundred and five fifties.

Rishabh Pant will remain the obvious choice for keeper-batter. He has been India's standout batter in Test cricket for a while now. That says a lot because he did not play any red-ball match for India for nearly two years following his road accident in December 2022.

Sarfaraz Khan or Dhruv Jurel could occupy one of the batting slots that would be left vacant following Rohit's exit. Sarfaraz made an impressive debut against England at home but struggled against New Zealand barring the 150 he scored in Bengaluru. Jurel also did well in his debut series against England. He struggled in the Perth Test, but looks a compact player and can develop into a good Test batter.

Nitish Reddy or Washington Sundar could occupy one of the all-rounder's slots depending on whether India want to go in with an extra pacer or two spinners. Only 21, Reddy has excelled with the bat in the first two Tests Down Under. His medium-pace bowling though is a work in progress. As for Sundar, he has the ability to win matches for the team with bat and ball.

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Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj/ Akash Deep

Jasprit Bumrah has been India’s standout bowler in the Test series against Australia so far. (Image Credits: Getty Images)

When fit, left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav should take over the role of India's lead spinner in the Test format. In 13 Tests so far, he has picked up 56 wickets at an average of 22.16, with four five-fers. Kuldeep has also improved his batting considerably and can chip in with some crucial runs.

Being the current vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah should ideally be elevated to the leadership role once Rohit exits the Test scene. If fit, senior pacer Mohammed Shami walks into the playing XI. Mohammed Siraj has done a reasonable job in Shami's absence, but Akash Deep could also be a choice as the third seamer.