KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open as ex-cricketer picks India's Playing XI for first Test against England

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif picked the Shubman Gill-led side's playing XI for the first Test match against England, which is scheduled to take place from June 20 to 24 at the Yorkshire Cricket Ground in Leeds, England. This will be India's first Test assignment after a humiliating 3-1 defeat in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

India captain Rohit Sharma and batting great have also announced their retirement before the England series, and Shubman Gill has been appointed Rohit's successor to lead India. India batter Karun Nair has also been included in the squad following an impressive performance in domestic cricket.

Kaif believes that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal should open in England just like their last assignment in Australia. he picked Abhimanyu Easwaran as the number three batter. Kaif further stated that Shubman Gill should bat at number four as Kohli won't be there in England.

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"KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open just like Australia. Jaiswal has very good form. K.L. Rahul has also played well in Australia. And I think that the two of your well-trained and well-informed players should open. Abhimanyu Easwaran can feature at number three, and since there is no Virat Kohli, so Shubman Gill to bat at number four" said Mohammad Kaif on 'X'.

Team India has added a few new faces to the squad, and one of them is the Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan, and Arshdeep Singh. There are chances that both batter will likely to receive their Test cap in England but Kaif ignored both the stars.

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Kaif also picked Border-Gavaskar Trophy's centurian fast bowling all-rounder Nitish Reddy, but only if he will be able to roll his arms.

Mohammad Kaif's playing XI for India for the first Test match against England

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Eswaran, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy/ Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

India's squad vs England

Shubman Gill(C), Rishabh Pant(vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Parishdh Krishna, Akashdeep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav