-
ALSO READ
Check India vs England 1st Test playing 11 and head-to-head stats here
IND vs ENG: India may ditch specialist wicket-keeper plan, play only Pant
Jaffer predicts India playing 11 for 1st Test against England at Chepauk
IND vs ENG: Ashwin, Sundar, Kuldeep may be India's spinners for 1st Test
England vs Pakistan 1st Test: Pak win toss, elect to bat at Manchester
-
Swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will be preferred over the more experienced Wriddhiman Saha in the opening Test of the four-match series against England, India captain Virat Kohli said in Chennai on Thursday.
CHECK IND vs ENG 1st TEST live toss, live score and match updates here
Check IND vs ENG 1st Test playing 11 prediction here
The big-ticket series, which will decide New Zealand's opponents for the World Test Championship final, will begin here from Friday.
"Rishabh Pant will start (in the first Test). He is in good headspace and he has come along very nicely. He is working hard on all aspects of the game," Kohli said at the pre-match press conference.
Pant's belligerence (89 not out) in the last Test in Brisbane propelled his team to an incredible 2-1 series win over Australia recently, coming days after he nearly saw India home with a fine 97 in the third match in Sydney.
Check IND vs ENG 1st Test toss and live streaming details here
And skipper Kohli is highly impressed with Pant's showings.
"There is good reason what he did in Australia gives all of us hope going ahead."
England's tour of India 2021
Pant grabbed the opportunity with both hands after Saha's twin failures in India's humiliating defeat in the first Test in Adelaide.
Giving an indication into the combination India might prefer in the upcoming matches against England, considered as one of the world's most balanced sides, Kohli said, "The focus will be on bowlers who can also bat."
Check ICC Test championship latest news, schedule and points table here
Check IND vs ENG latest news updates here
Incidentally, the last Test match held at Chepauk was also between India and England, played in 2016, when India won in the final session of the fifth day after England had scored 470 in their first innings.
Dear Reader,
Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.
We, however, have a request.
As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.
Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.
Digital Editor
