Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara will open for India in the fifth Test vs England at Edgbaston, Birmingham that starts Friday. The 34-year-old has been promoted in the batting order as regular skipper Rohit Sharma misses out the match after testing positive for COVID-19. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah is the stand-in captain. 

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl. 

India get into the game with four bowlers – Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Bumrah and Mohammed Shami – and one all-rounder – Ravindra Jadeja. The most successfull Test bowler amoung the current lot, Ravi Ashwin, however misses out. 

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“It’s a good feeling (to be captain) and is a big privilege. Can’t get better than this. Excited and looking forward to this. Very happy with the preparation. Wanted to spend a lot of time and get used to the English conditions, as we came back from T20s. Happy with the preparation, now it’s for the mental side to take over. Four bowlers – myself, Siraj, Shardul and Shami along with Jaddu as the all-rounder,” Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah said at the toss. 

England, on the other hand, get into the game with both Stuart Broad and James Anderson leading their bowling attack. The team recently defeated New Zealand in a two-match series. Skipper Ben Stokes said that he wants to keep the momentum rolling. 

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“We’re gonna have a bowl. We’ve done well chasing and it’s also to see how the wicket will behave. It’s obviously good to come into a new series so quickly. Gives us the opportunity to keep the momentum rolling. We’re going to keep the same attitude going,” the English skipper said at the toss. 

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England (Playing XI): Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes(c), Sam Billings(w), Matty Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah(c)