India's predicted playing XI for the 1st Test vs England

Mere weeks after their historic series win in Australia, the Indian cricket team faces off against Joe Root's England in a 4-Test series at home.

Captain Virat Kohli returns to the side, as does all-rounder Hardik Pandya, while a number of familiar faces like Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Hanuma Vihari and Umesh Yadav miss out due to injury.

The first two Tests will be played at Chennai, and the BCCI announced a strong squad for the same.

India's squad for the first two Tests against England: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur

Here is India's predicted playing XI for the 1st Test against England.

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Openers: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is on the verge of becoming a Test regular

There's no doubt as to who'll open in the innings for India in the 1st Test against England. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, who appeared to be a very solid combination in the few innings they played together in Australia, will walk out to face the new ball.

Both players are accomplished players of both spin and pace, and Gill in particular is on the verge of making the opening slot his own just 3 games into his Test career. Rohit, on the other hand, has an outrageous home record, and will want to pile on the daddy hundreds like he usually does.

Mayank Agarwal will serve as the reserve opener, but he doesn't offer any threat to the above two at the moment. KL Rahul, who bizarrely doesn't seem to be in India's red-ball plans, is another option.

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Middle Order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk)

Australia were stonewalled into submission by Che Pujara

Captain Virat Kohli will return to his preferred No. 4 slot, and he will be flanked on either side by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

While Pujara stonewalled the Aussies into submission Down Under by spending hours at the crease, Rahane led the team admirably in Kohli's absence. Both players were in decent nick in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and they'll be keen on replicating that success at home as well.

The spotlight will be firmly on the Indian skipper, who didn't score a single century in the entirety of 2020. Kohli's credentials as a captain have also been brought into question, but the Indian team management has been quick to state that criticism can't be levelled at someone whose win percentage in Test cricket is around 70.

Kohli will be itching to get back amongst the runs, and it's highly likely that he'll explode into form in this series and further his standing as the best all-format batsman in the world.

Following the experienced trio will be young Rishabh Pant, who was the hero of India's comeback in the Test series against Australia. The 23-year-old has played only two Test innings at home, and has twin scores of 92 to show for.

There were rumours floating around that India could hand Wriddhiman Saha the gloves and play Pant as a specialist batsman to have some added insurance behind the stumps in turning conditions. But to do that, India would have to go in with only 4 bowlers, which might not be the best idea given the team's recent injury history.

As a result, Pant will have a task on his hands on the Chennai wicket, which has historically been slow and low.

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All-rounders: Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin

Washi Sundar had a memorable Test debut

The role of the all-rounder is a tricky one to choose in the absence of the injured Ravindra Jadeja.

Hardik Pandya made his comeback to the Test squad, which indicates that he's fit to bowl. However, he has made noticeable changes to his action, and it might be unwise to make him bowl in a 5-day match without giving him adequate practice in the shorter formats.

Depending on whether the pitch appears to assist pace or spin, India could go in with either Shardul Thakur or Washington Sundar. The latter is in prime position to be given the nod on his home ground, due to the extra batting he provides and his brilliant all-round showing on Test debut recently.

This would mean that India go in with 3 spinners like they've done often at home in the past.

Following Sundar will be Ravichandran Ashwin, who jumps from being a bowler to an all-rounder thanks to his match-saving innings in the 3rd Test against Australia. The off-spinner has a superhuman record at home, and England will have to play out of their skins to counter him.

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Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

Kuldeep Yadav will finally get another opportunity in Test cricket

Kuldeep Yadav will be India's second-choice spinner against England, as has been pointed out by bowling coach Bharat Arun. The 25-year-old last played a Test in Sydney in 2018, and he desperately needs a strong showing to get his confidence back.

India have a number of quality pacers who've impressed over the last few months/years. With Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav injured, they're likely to go in with the experienced duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma.

While Bumrah hasn't played a Test at home yet, Ishant is making a much-awaited return from injury and should walk into the starting XI. This would be harsh on Mohammed Siraj, who finished the Australia series as the leading wicket-taker. But the experience and skillset of Ishant should give him the edge.