ENG vs IND 2025: Irfan Pathan expects Karun Nair to bat at No. 3 in India's Playing XI for Headingley Test

Team India are all set to square off in a five-match Test series against England to start their new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The first game of the series will be played at the Headingley, Leeds and the five-day fixture is supposed to commence on June 20. Ahead of the highly-anticipated clash, former star all-rounder Irfan Pathan has proposed his ideal Playing XI for the first game.

The team, which will be led by Shubman Gill, with Rishabh Pant being the designated vice-captain, Irfan feels that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the two most ideal players for opening the innings among many options that the team has. At No. 3, Irfan has picked comeback man Karun Nair to helm at the affairs and provide a strong support to the top order. At four and five, Gill and Pant have been confirmed to play, so there are no doubts in the former cricketer's mind to pick the two most crucial spots in the middle order.

According to the Baroda-born, the star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will not only bat at 6, but also play the role of the specialist spinner in the squad. Fast-bowling all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur both have found places in his ideal playing combination, despite the reports suggesting only one of the two to take the field at Headingley. However, Irfan has picked both of them for giving an extra depth to the batting unit.

Pace department, which looks like India's greatest strength going into this series, the bowling attack will be spearheaded by none other than Jasprit Bumrah. Irfan expects Bumrah to be at his best in the upcoming series and lead the unit by example, with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna being his partners-in-crime. All-in-all, the 40-year-old, who will also be enjoying a commentary stint for the series, has picked a solid combination that can help India win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead.

Irfan Pathan's India playing XI for first Test: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

England field their most inexperienced bowling line-up

England, meanwhile, have already named their Playing XI for the game commencing Friday. The Ben Stokes-led side is taking its most inexperienced bowling attack in the last couple of decades, but the likes of Chris Woakes has returned in what could be a positive sign for the Three Lions.

England Playing XI for first Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, and Shoaib Bashir