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While the opening Test match of the five-match series between India and England ended in a draw, thanks to rain which made no play possible on the final day. The visiting captain Virat Kohli is convinced that he picked the right team for these conditions. While India went ahead with Jaspirt Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja in their XI, they had to leave out their best spinner in recent years R Ashwin.
However, given that everybody including Shardul and Jadeja justified their selection, Kohli said that this could well become a template moving forward in the series. This means that despite performing well in overseas conditions in recent years, Ashwin may not make the final XI moving forward in the series.
Notably, Jadeja scored a crucial half-century in the first innings of the Trent Bridge Test to help India take a lead, while Shardul Thakur also scalped the wickets of Joe Root, Ollie Robinson, Dan Lawrence, and Jos Buttler across two innings.
Apart from saying that the 4-1 combination could be a template, he also added that if the conditions demand to change it, they will have to adapt to it.
We have always been adaptable to the conditions and pace of the wicket: Kohli
"Most likely it will be a template going ahead [4-1 combination], but we’ve always been adaptable as well, to the conditions and pace of the wicket. It’s going to be an exciting series to be a part of, as India-England always is," Kohli said.
The first Test looked set to be heading towards an exciting final day when India ended day 4 on 52/1, chasing a target of over 208. Although India were favourites to win the match, England would have also fancied their chances on the final day, given their pace bowlers were in fine form. However, rain played spoilsport and both the teams had to settle for a draw, also sharing points in the World Test Championship tally. The second Test match of the series will begin on August 12 and is set to be played at the Lord's.