India vs England 3rd Test Playing XI: Sarfaraz, Jurel set for debut; Axar-Kuldeep toss-up in Rajkot

India vs England 3rd Test Squad Announcement: Having levelled the series in Visakhapatnam, a rejuvenated Indian team will take on England in the third Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot from Thursday.

With a host of their core players absent in the previous fixture, India would draw confidence from the result against the Three Lions, led by Ben Stokes, who will feature in his 100th Test in Rajkot.

While KL Rahul continues his recovery from a right quadriceps injury that kept him out of the second Test, India will be boosted by all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s comeback at his home ground.

Let us have a look at the probable XIs of both sides

Sarfaraz Khan set for much-awaited debut

Domestic run-machine Sarfaraz Khan is set to make his debut in the third Test after it was deemed that KL Rahul will be out of action for another game. Sarfaraz, alongwith Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar, will be manning a new-look Indian middle-order in the absence of Virat Kohli.

Jurel in for Bharat

Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel could bolt into the playing XI, making his Test debut having played only 15 First-Class games. Jurel will take over the wicketkeeping reins from KS Bharat. Bharat has had an underwhelming run with the bat, scoring 92 runs from four innings despite being a fine presence behind the stumps.

𝗗𝗵𝗿𝘂𝘃 𝗝𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹 – 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!

Being named in the Test squad 🙂
Day 1 jitters with #TeamIndia 😬
Finding his seat in the bus 🚌

Jurel is a mixed bag of fun & emotions!#INDvENG | @dhruvjurel21 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/WQryiDhdHG

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 14, 2024

Axar or Kuldeep?

While Axar Patel’s batting abilities will tempt the Indian team management to draw him into the eleven besides Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin on a likely flat pitch, wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav’s variety could hold its value against the aggressive England batters. Having missed the first Test in Hyderabad, Kuldeep returned to the side in Vizag, where he chipped in with four wickets during the series-levelling win.

India predicted XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav/Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Mohammed Siraj.

England predicted XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, James Anderson, Mark Wood.

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