England vs India 2014: Ideal XI for the visiting team

An ideal team is one which is selected based on the conditions, opponents style of play, strengths, weaknessesandpitches. Distinct conditions need distinct team setups.In the subcontinent, where pitches are dry and turn a lot, a team can play with 2-3 mediocre spinners and they would prove to be more effective than a lot of good pacers. Similarly, in conditions like England, pacers can be of better use than spinners.A few bigplayers might have to be sidelined sometimes to make the right team combination.Lets try tolook at what can be Indias bestplaying XI in the sequence of batting order:NOTE:The views expressed in this article are the author's own and not reflective of the website as a whole.

#1 Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan has been a consistent cog in the wheel for Indian Test team since his debut century against Australia last year. He has quickly risen in the ranks and has become a superstar batsman for the side, also being one of the favorite players of the skipper MS Dhoni.

This popular moustache twirling southpaw has pretty much replaced the irreplaceable Virender Sehwag as the aggressive Test opener, after 9 years of toil in the domestic circuits.

He is yet to play a Test against England, and it shall be interesting how Dhawan performs in the testing English conditions.

#2 Gautam Gambhir

This Delhi veteran is on a roll right now. His IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders just won this year’s season under his captaincy. His personal batting form has been good lately and finally after around 1 and a half years he is back in the national side.

He is one of the most experienced batsmen in the squad and also one of the very few who have travelled to England before. He holds a decent record against the home team with a batting average of 44, though he would love to better his record on English pitches.

The tide is in his favour and his comeback to the squad should result in his comeback to the position he belongs.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara

Arguably the best Test batsman in the side, Pujara had giant shoes to fill as number 3 after Rahul Dravid retired. So far, he has done that to perfection. With a batting average of 58 in Tests and a fantastic tour of South Africa last season scoring at an average of 70 he has shown to be a champion batsman who can bat long hours and score runs aplenty. He is often compared to Dravid himself in terms of temperament and technique.

He is yet to play in English conditions but he does enjoy playing against them. Last time when England were in India, Pujara scored 438 runs in four matches at an average of 87.50, including a double century.

England should be wary of this champion batsman.

#4 Virat Kohli

Termed as the most complete batsman of the post-Sachin era, Kohli has been the focal point of the Indian batting over the last couple of years.

He is right now the best ODI batsman in the world and is improving with each passing day in Tests as well. He has tremendous temperament and has shored the sinking Indian ship several times.

His best attribute is that he has few weak zones and can score in any conditions and against any opponent.

This will be his second tour to England but having played no Tests last time around, this fearless Delhite would love to leave an impact worth remembering.

#5 Ajinkya Rahane

His 96 against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this year showed his character. Though he missed the ton and India eventually lost the game but his temperament and toughness fetched him applauds from across the cricket fraternity.

He has been one of the most consistent performers in IPL over the years.He has played 5 Tests so far, 4 of which were on foreign grounds, 2 in South Africa and 2 in New Zealand and has been exceptionally successful in both the countries with batting average of 69 and 54 respectively.He will get competition from Rohit Sharma for this positionbut Rahane must be preferred looking at his current form and past record.

#6 MS Dhoni (c) (wk)

Its been an eternity since India won an awayseries. Its been an eternity since MSD has played a soulful Test knock away from home. He is still the best Indian wicketkeeper and Indias biggest matchwinner in ODIs.

A few good knocks from 83-Tests veteranisnot much to ask for. He is the most experienced player in the Indian dressing room and has toured England twice before.

With just 3 fifties to his name over the last one year, he may not look as the strongest point of the line up right now but he can turn that around any moment.

#7 Stuart Binny

I did a piece on why he deserves his spot in the squad. He has scored over 400 runs and has taken 14 wickets this year in the Ranji Trophy. His performance in Bangladesh also shut all his critics who were rampant regarding his selection.

Since he is there, he MUST play. He is the only medium pace all-rounder India has on the tour (he is the only one anyway) and he should be given a nod over Jadeja.

Even SriLanka on their present tour to England have depended on their pacemen and have had a relatively better tour than previous ones.

Binny balances this Indian team perfectly. He is the medium pace all-rounder India have always craved for.Jadeja is a fan favourite, skipper’s darling and a very good player, but he should sit out in order to benefit his side.

#8 Ravichandran Ashwin

As I said, India should go with only one spinner on English pitches, I will like to add, that spinner should be Ashwin and not Ravindra Jadeja.

Jadeja is a great ODI player. He is an asset for the shorter formats of the game but his wicket to wicket bowling gets predictable in Test matches where batsmen have enough time to read him. He lacks certain variations that is required to succeed as a Test spinner. Ashwin, despite his failure on the last tour, still has the experience of English pitches. Even in terms of batting, Ashwin boasts of 2 Test centuries.

Though he would love to improve his records against the Englishmen. An average of 52 doesn’t look good, does it?

#9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

He is the spearhead of Indian ODI squad and would love to secure himself a position in Test squad as well. His consistent wicket-to-wicket bowling and ability to swing the new ball can make him a dangerous customer for English batters.

His current form gives him a nod over Ishant Sharma but if India decides to go with experience, don't be surprised to see Bhuvneshwar warming the bench either.

Ishant Sharma has played before in England, he is a 55-Test veteran and picked up wickets in New Zealand, he is equally deserving but very inconsistent!

Kumar’s ability to bat well gives him another scoring point over Sharma

#10 Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami is one of the certainties to make the starting XI among the bowlers after impressive performances since his debut last November against the West Indies at home.

In just 6 Tests, he has taken 27 wickets already with a best of 5-47.

Shami regularly bowls around 140 kmph, bowls a tight line and could prove a dangerous for the home team. He swings the new ball dangerously and can be a delight to watch when in full flow.

#11 Pankaj Singh

He may not be as fast as Varun Aaron, but he has picked up 300 wickets in first class games and has been one of the top bowlers of the last decade in the Ranhi Trophy.

His inclusion would give a much needed surprise factor to the Indian bowling attack which sometimes becomes so very predictable.

Talking about form: In the last five years, Singh has taken 196 wickets in the Ranji, including 39 wickets at 22.46 in the 2013-14 season. He is tall, fit and waiting for an opportunity.

For years, he has been ignored by the Indian selectors despite 300+ wickets in domestic circuit, the 29-year-old medium-fast bowler finally finds his name in the national squad and should debut on this tour.