India vs England Test Series: India's predicted 16-man squad and starting XI

Middle-order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane

India's middle-order arguably consists of their three best Test batsmen at the moment.

Virat Kohli, the captain of the team, is everyone's first name in the team-sheet, and there can be no debate about his inclusion in the side. Despite Kohli's dominance in world cricket in recent years, England is one country where he has struggled to perform in Test matches, granted that his solitary Test tour of England was four years ago. For India to perform well, they need Virat Kohli to rectify his mistakes from his previous England tour and make some substantial contributions - just like he has in all other parts of the world.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, arguably India's most technically correct batsmen, have both been going through a lean patch off late, the latter in a more concerning manner. However, Rahane is known as India's best overseas specialist and has performed in a stellar manner in several previous overseas tours. While Pujara's record on overseas tours is not as stellar, he has had multiple stints in county cricket - including one this year - and that experience will make him an invaluable asset in English conditions. That being said, if one of these two does not perform in the first few tests, then the management may bring in KL Rahul to play in the middle-order, just the way he did in the Test match against Afghanistan.