India's predicted XI for one-off test against Afghanistan

Afghanistan is all set to make their test debut, as they will face off Ajinkya Rahane's Team India in a one-off test series kicking off from June 14. In Virat Kohli's absence, Ajinkya Rahane has been handed over the reigns to captain the Indian Team against the Asghar Stanikzai led Afghanistan team.

With quite a many senior players being rested for the one-off test, it will be interesting to see how Ajinkya Rahane and his men line up for the historic test match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium of Bangalore.

Here is the strongest possible XI which will take on the young Afghanistani brigade a few days later.

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Openers:

Murali Vijay really walks into the Indian Test XI. The elegant right-hander from Chennai has been one of the most consistent batsmen for India in test cricket in the past few years. Though Vijay struggled to find his rhythm in a forgettable tour against South Africa, he for sure can be trusted for the upcoming series' against Afghanistan & England. 

Shikhar Dhawan shall accompany Murali Vijay at the top of the order. While Vijay will play the anchor-role, Dhawan would be the aggressor to India's innings. The left-hander enjoyed some good form in the IPL as well, where he amassed 497 runs at an average of 38.23.

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Middle Order:

Arguably India's best test batsman at present, Cheteshwar Pujara would come in to bat at his usual No. 3 position. The 30-year-old veteran is representing Yorkshire in the Royal One Day Cup in England at the moment, where he has scored 364 runs at an imposing average of 72.80. He would like to carry on his amazing form in the one-off test against Afghanistan as well.

In Virat Kohli's unavailability, either one of KL Rahul or Karun Nair is expected to take the No. 4 spot. I'd personally go with KL Rahul, as it will be nothing less than a crime by not playing him. Rahul is in the form of his life. Playing for KXIP in the IPL, the right-hander piled up 659 runs in 14 innings and ended up at No. 3 in the Orange Cap list!

Someone who works extremely hard yet doesn't get a lot of attention, India's stand-in skipper, Ajinkya Rahane will bat three down the order followed by wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik, who was announced as a replacement of the injured Wriddhiman Saha at No. 6.

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All-rounders:

Batting all-rounder Hardik Pandya is expected to come at No. 7. 

Hardik had a decent IPL, where he was the highest wicket-taker for the Mumbai Indians this season with 18 wickets to his name. He also played some fine cameos with the bat towards the end of the innings and managed to score a total of 260 for his team. The stylish all-rounder would want to continue his good form in the upcoming series' against Afghanistan and England.

Pandya would mostly be followed by Ravichandran Ashwin, who has reinvented himself by adding a lot of variety to his game. Ashwin had bowled well in South Africa [in not very spin friendly conditions] and would look to spin a web around the Afghanistani batsmen this time around.

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Bowlers:

With the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack, Bhuvneshwar Kumar being rested, Ishant Sharma will be India's frontline pacer in the one-off test. Against an inexperienced Afghanistan team, Ishant is expected to run a riot with the pace and bounce he'll have to offer the Afghanistani batsmen.

Following his impressive performances in the recently concluded IPL, Kuldeep Yadav is expected to make the playing eleven as well. Representing the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, the left-arm chinaman bowler picked up 17 wickets at an economy rate of just over 8 and played a vital role in KKR's successful campaign!

Umesh Yadav shall most probably be India's second frontline seamer after Ishant. Umesh has made a comeback into the Indian test squad on behalf on his marvellous performances in the IPL, where he sent the batsmen back to the pavilion for 20 times. The speedster from Vidarbha would look to trouble the Afghani batsmen as well with his lethal swinging deliveries!

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 Cheers,
 Sparsh