Ravichandran Ashwin chooses Indian Play XI for the first test against England
India We will begin our 5 important test series England Starting June 20, 2025, we will mark the beginning of something new at Leeds Headingley World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The series arrives with massive expectations as well as for the buzzball challenge that it has agreed to. Ben StokesNot only due to the historical changes in cricket in India, but also to the English language.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwinthree stubborn people from Indian Test cricket left the form and triggered the transition of generations. Teams need to find shapes and characters quickly under the new leadership core, especially in tough English situations.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s key strategy to counter the British barball
As the countdown begins, fans and critics alike have speculated about Indian Play XI. In that context, Ashwin offered a detailed and bold view of what the Indian lineup would look like in the first Test despite his retirement. The outstanding aspect of Ashwin’s proposal to play Xi is his strong support Kuldeep Yadav.
Speaking about his YouTube channel, Ashwin argued that India must fight England’s aggressive buzzball strategy, particularly the variations and deceptions offered by Kuldeep. “Unless the pitch is an absolute green belt, India should not enter the field without Kuldeep Yadav in Play XI. In the case of the green belt, you can drop the spinner. Otherwise, if they play Bezball, it’s better to play Kulball. This will be my side for the first test.” Ashwin emphasized.
This recommendation reflects Ashwin’s tactical thinking, knowing that Bazball will flourish with predictability and pace, and he insists on breaking rhythm through variation and unpredictability. He believes Kuldeep could become a game-changer, especially when England is about to accelerate.
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R Ashwin’s India xi for the first test at Headingley
Suitable for the Headingley test, Ashwin’s preferred XI reflects a balanced combination of youth and experience, and the openness to explore new combinations in the post-Kohli-Rohit era.
- opener: Kl Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Top & Middle Order: Sai Sudarsan, Shubman Gill, Rabindra Jadeha
- WicketKeeper-Batter: Rishab pants
- Batting/All-Round Spots: Karun Nair or Nitish Reddy
- Bowling Attack: Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
This lineup suggests a flexible batting unit with a multi-purpose bowling attack that can be adapted to multiple left and right combinations and conditions. In particular, it is to include both Karun Nya or Nitish Kumar Reddy It’s a big statement, with both players being considered capable red ball players and offering balance at No. 6 or No. 7. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudarsan Step up because there are no senior leaders. and Jasprit Bumrah, Rabindra Jadaja, Mohamed Shiraji Leading paced attacks and thakur, India delivering all-around value, still boasts a well-balanced unit when its young batting core holds well.
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