Hyderabad, January 25, 2024 — In the much-anticipated first Test match between India and England in Hyderabad, England won the toss and chose to bat first on Thursday. The decision by skipper Ben Stokes was influenced by the hope of capitalizing on the freshness of the wicket.

A notable absence from India’s lineup is former captain Virat Kohli, who withdrew from the series due to personal reasons. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement expressing support for Kohli’s decision, stating, “Virat has spoken to Captain Rohit Sharma, the team management, and the selectors and has emphasized that while representing the country has always been his top priority, certain personal situations demand his presence and undivided attention.”

This unexpected absence provided an opportunity for Shreyas Iyer in the middle order. If Kohli had been in the lineup, the 29-year-old Iyer would likely have sat out. KL Rahul is playing as a specialist batter, and KS Bharat has taken up wicketkeeping duties.

India’s bowling strategy appears spin-heavy, with the inclusion of Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin. For England, the bowling plans are of particular interest as they have opted for only one pace bowling option, Mark Wood. The effectiveness of England’s spinners on the potentially gripping surface will also be closely observed.

The playing XI for India in the first Test includes Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), and Mohammed Siraj.

As the action unfolds at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, cricket enthusiasts around the world are eager to witness the clash between bat and ball in this exciting Test series between two cricketing powerhouses.