Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has picked India’s playing XI for the opening Test against England. India would be without the services of their veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who recently retired from Test cricket.

Kaif picked KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the openers of the team. Rahul and Jaiswal had also delivered consistently while opening the innings on the Australian tour, especially in the first half. Kaif backed Abhimanyu Easwaran to bat at one down after the right-hander’s consistent run in the domestic circuit.

Newly appointed captain Shubman Gill takes the number four slot in Kaif’s team. Karun Nair, who scored 863 runs in nine matches of the Ranji Trophy at an average of 53.93, has been backed to bat at number five.

The Natwest Trophy final hero wants India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant to bat at number six. Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy are the two all-rounders in the team, picked by Kaif.

Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack and he will be supported by Mohammed Siraj and in-form Prasidh Krishna.

Kaif wants India to play Shardul Thakur if Nitish Kumar Reddy isn’t fit to bowl in the opening Test.

Kaif said on X, “There is still some question on Nitish Reddy’s bowling. He is in the India A team and if he bowls then he will surely play at No. 8. He hit a century in Australia and batted well. If he isn’t fully fit to bowl, you can get Shardul Thakur.”

Mohammad Kaif India’s final XI for the opening Test against England: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill ©, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.