India vs Sri Lanka 2017: India's probable playing XI for first Test

With the start of the first Test at Galle, a new governance, headed by the Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri collaboration, will commence, steering Indian cricket forward, at least till the 2019 World Cup. The previous regime under Anil Kumble was studded with comprehensive Test wins, almost all of them being at home. However, sterner ‘tests’ await the new combination, with foreign tours chalked out over the coming months.

Kohli has a reputation of tinkering with his playing XI, which makes it difficult to predict what combination he will employ. The disclaimer done with, here’s predicting the Indian line-up for the first Test:

Top-order

Dhawan last played a Test in October 2016

A fortnight ago, when the team was announced, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul would have walked into the side as the first-choice opening combination. A wrist injury and high fever, respectively, have resulted in a new opening pair to be the likely beneficiary: Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund are expected to weather the new ball now.

Dhawan has come into the side on the back of a fruitful IPL and Champions Trophy, while Mukund, by the sheer volume of his domestic runs, has clawed his way in, having also featured in the series against Australia earlier this year, for the first time in six seasons.

Walking in after them will be Test team’s crisis man, the self-effacing Cheteshwar Pujara. While a major chunk of the team was part of the IPL, Pujara played in England, honing his already slick skills in foreign conditions. On his last tour here in 2015, he got only one game, but made it count with an unbeaten 145, when he was asked to open at Colombo.

Middle-order

Two years later, a more experienced Kohli returns to Sri Lanka

Virat Kohli the batsman is always under the scanner, but this time around, more eyes will be on his captaincy, as he returns to the land where his Test leadership first took flight. A scratchy bout of indifferent form was kicked away with a century in the final ODI against West Indies, and the 28-year-old might should take little time to settle back in the whites (for the first time since his shoulder injury in March).

Even a Karun Nair triple ton wasn’t enough to usurp Ajinkya Rahane from his Test spot, such is his value in the team. A rewarding ODI series against West Indies has ensured that Rahane is swimming in top form as the Indian team readies for the Test season.

He played three Tests against the hosts in 2015, but apart from one century, couldn’t exactly get going, averaging a shade below 30. Trust him to come good this time around, with a successful run of form backing him.

India’s primary keeping choice ever since MS Dhoni departed, Wriddhiman Saha has proved, time and again, why he is much more than just a compact wicket-keeper. His more than useful batting skills have been crucial for several lower order contributions, but he might have to push towards compiling bigger scores, with age catching up with him quickly and other younger candidates (read Rishabh Pant) snapping at his heels.

Spinners

Jadeja will look to keep his numero uno spot in Test rankings intact

2016’s cricketer of the year, Ravichandran Ashwin is all set to play his 50th Test, reprising the role of the primary spinner on his second tour to the Islands. He had a watershed home series, picking up more than 80 wickets in 14 Tests.

World No.1 Ravindra Jadeja is likely to join him, sending down his rapid arm darts on the soil where his Sri Lankan counterpart, Rangana Herath, has honed his skills all these years.

Kuldeep Yadav was clearly the standout performer in the practice game, claiming notice with his rare genre of bowling. He has done enough to eke in as the third spinning option, putting some added pressure on the Ashwin-Jadeja duo, and also on the pacer he gets in at the expense of.

Pacers

Umesh Yadav 2.0 has been much more accurate and menacing

Far from his inconsistent self that played the first half of his Test career, the new and improved Umesh Yadav has been a much needed breath of fresh air in the Indian bowling attack. Having corrected his radar, he now bowls closer to the stumps, at much more menacing lines and quicker pace. Yet again, he might edge out Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who keeps missing the cut despite fine showings whenever he gets a look-in.

A troublesome knee has failed to dampen the spirits of Mohammed Shami, who relentlessly keeps coming back in the team by defeating injuries. He was a regular feature, and his spells a game-changer, in the first half of the home season, before a nagging hamstring issue prevented him from playing Tests this year. Hopefully, his swinging deliveries will take centrestage this time, rather than an irksome fitness issue.