What should be the Indian line-up for the last Test

Another overseas Test series. Another defeat. This has become quite a familiar sight for fans of Indian cricket for the last 6-7 years. The fans had high expectations at the beginning of the tour that this time, India will finally win an away Test series.

Alas! It wasn't to be this time either. What will sting more is that India actually had a very good chance of winning the series as the England team looked very vulnerable at home and India had a quality pace attack in their arsenal.

But again, like the previous South Africa tour, the batsmen (save for one man) let down the bowlers. Batsmen like Rahane and Pujara improved as the series went along, but none were trustworthy enough to provide support to Kohli on a consistent basis.

The Indians have now lost the series 3-1 with one game to play at The Oval. This dead rubber match can be used as an opportunity to provide youngsters with a chance to play an overseas Test match and give them a feel of foreign conditions and what is it like to face quality seam bowling at their own backyard.

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Openers:

The openers have failed to deliver a solid start in this series. Two occasions where they provided a solid start through a 50-run-partnership were in the two innings at Trent Bridge, which incidentally, India went on to win.

Many people have vouched for young Prithvi Shaw to get his maiden cap in the last Test match. He got his call-up to the squad on the basis of a superb showing at the first-class level, evident by his average of 56.72 at that level. At 20 years of age, the only way that he can go is upwards and providing him with a place in the openers' slot is a perfect way to start his international career.

But who will he replace? Will it be Dhawan or Rahul? While Dhawan has looked better than Rahul, I will still replace the former as he has been a part of all of India's previous tours, including one to England and has repeatedly failed to leave a mark, getting dropped midway through the series on numerous occasions.

This is Rahul's first tour to England and he has tremendous potential to be one of India's finest openers. He has a 100 in Australia to back that up. I will give him one more chance at the top of the order.

Openers: Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul

Middle-order:

The middle order, though not at their best, have batted better than the openers in this series. But if the middle order comes out to bat at a time when the top order is supposed to bat, then it is extremely tough for them to handle the pressure.

I'm taking a bold call by not having Kohli in this eleven. There are two reasons for that. One is that Kohli himself has admitted that there is a lot of workload on him. He deserves a break not only for that but also to nurse that back injury he has got. He has been rested for the Asia Cup, so resting him here will give him an extended break.

The other reason is that the other batsmen have to step up. It is high time that they stop depending on one person to score all the runs. When Kohli got out in the last Test match, it sent shockwaves down the Indian dressing room. Rahane, who was batting really well alongside Kohli, was half the batsman once Kohli got out.

Now, when they go in with the mindset that he is not there in the team, and we must be the ones to bear the burden, it hopefully might improve their game.

In the absence of Kohli, it must be the one, if not both the senior batsmen in the team( Pujara and Rahane) that must take on the role of lead batsmen. They have just started to get their form back which is a good sign. I have two other batsmen in my team in the form of Karun Nair( who scored a triple century the last time he faced England) and the debuting Hanuma Vihari( who has a whopping first-class average of 59.79).

Middle-order: Pujara, Rahane, Karun Nair and Hanuma Vihari.

Wicketkeeper and All-rounders:

Rishab Pant did not have a good game at the Ageas Bowl. The byes column kept on mounting(though most of it couldn't be helped). He had a torrid time with the bat in the first innings, playing 29 balls before eventually getting out for a duck. But I would still persist with him, as he is a capable batsman who can up the scoring rate and a handy wicketkeeper. At the end of the day, this was only his second Test match.

Another person who had a disappointing game was Ravichandran Ashwin. After Moeen Ali's performance with the ball, a lot was expected out of India's lead spinner. He could only manage to get 3 wickets in the whole match.

Maybe he was trying too many things instead of keeping it simple by landing the ball on the rough patch (which Moeen Ali was doing consistently). Or maybe, it was the hip injury that he was nursing that hindered his ability. Either way, I would leave Ashwin out of my team (partly as a drop and partly as a rest for that injury) and I would replace him with Ravindra Jadeja, a proven international bowler, though not as prolific as Ashwin.

I'm going to take another bold call by playing Hardik Pandya as the third pacer. Many will not agree to this move but hear me out. India views Pandya as a batting all-rounder who can bat at the middle order and bowl a few overs of pace. But time and time again, he has not proven his worth as a middle-order batsman.

His technique and attacking temperament is best suited as a lower order batsman who can score some quick runs down the order when the bowlers are tired and/or complacent. A prime example of this kind of player is Sam Curran. If Pandya can replicate what Sam Curran did for England, he might prove to be a vital cog in the Indian team. Of course, all of this depends on whether he can be an effective third seamer. He certainly has the potential, evident by his bowling performance at Trent Bridge.

His consistency needs to improve though, as he is seen as a relief bowler by the opposition. But that may be because he is in the team as a batting all-rounder and the captain does not back him as an important bowler. If he is given the responsibility of being the 3rd seamer, then he might be more consistent with his bowling. It is a huge gamble, but if it works, it will do wonders for the balance of the team.

Wicketkeeper and All-rounders: Rishab Pant, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja.

Bowlers:

Since I'm playing Pandya as a third seamer, there is room for only two fast bowlers in my team. Since I wanted players who did not get a chance during the previous games, to get a chance, I am going to have Shardul Thakur in my team.

Who is the other pacer then? I'll have Jasprit Bumrah in the team, as this can be a test for him whether he can lead a pace attack in the absence of senior bowlers. He is already the go-to-man for Kohli when he needs wickets. The additional responsibility will make him grow as a bowler, a leader and as a person.

This might seem harsh on Shami and Ishant who bowled so well throughout the series, but they can see this as a well-deserved break.

Bowlers: Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah

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Final XI:

Kl Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteswar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Karun Nair, Hanuma Vihari, Rishab Pant(wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah.