India vs England 5th Test Kennington Oval: Prithvi Shaw For KL Rahul to Hanuma Vihari For Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli-Led Team India’s Predicted XI

India vs England 5th Test Kennington Oval: What India, like England, has suffered throughout the series is both the teams have not got good starts. KL Rahul, who has been persisted with has scored a total of 113 runs from the eight times he has walked out to bat.

Written by: India.com Sports Desk Edited by: Ankit Banerjee

Published: September 6, 2018, 9:05 AM IST

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India vs England 5th Test Kennington Oval: With the Kia Oval Test 24 hours away, Kohli could incorporate a few changes as it would be a dead rubber for team India as they have already lost the series 3-1. India lost the Southampton Test by 60 runs, which was a nail-biter and the visiting team had their chances. With only pride to play for, it will not be wrong to give young Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari their maiden Test caps.

But if that happens, who faces the axe?

What India, like England has suffered throughout the series is both the teams have not got good starts. KL Rahul, who has been persisted with has scored a total of 113 runs from the eight times he has walked out to bat. These are not the kind of numbers one is looking for from your openers in trying conditions. Considering that young Shaw stands a very good chance of making the cut. Shaw has been consistent and that has been the hallmark of the little dynamo. He not only led India U19 to World Cup triumph but also performed outstandingly well when he got his chance with Delhi Daredevils. He is also a good red ball cricketer, something he has shown while playing for India A in England. So he makes a strong case for his selection.

Hello from The Oval Cricket Ground.

Our venue for the 5th and final Test against England.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/cuhTXsm3pG

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 5, 2018

The other change Kohli and the management could contemplate is dropping Hardik Pandya and giving Hanuma Vihari a go. Pandya has not been consistent and that has been his downfall. Also, considering Oval would be a batting paradise, Vihari should be backed. One extra batsman could come in handy if India crumbles again. Vihari is a technically sound batsman and is known to play the marathon innings in the domestic circuit. Giving him a go in England would do his confidence a world of good and that is exactly how Kohli should look at the scenario.

India’s Predicted XI:

Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja/ Ravichandran Ashwin, Iahant Sharma, Md Shami, Jasprit Bumrah