England should play their best team against India: Kevin Pietersen

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen said that England selectors not selecting the best players for the Test series would be disrespectful for the hosting Indian team.

Notably, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Sam Curran have been rested by England for the first two Tests against India, starting on 5 February in Chennai. In their place, England have recalled Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Rory Burns, all of whom have been rested for the ongoing series in Sri Lanka.

With Jonny Bairstow carrying out the rescue attack for England against Sri Lanka at the Galle, many cricket experts have questioned the decision of the English selectors to rest the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman for the first two Tests against India.

"Big debate on whether ENG have



picked their best team to play India in the 1st Test. Winning IN India is as good a feeling as winning in Aus. It's disrespectful to ENG fans & also @BCCI to NOT play your best team. Bairstow has to play! Broad/Anderson have to play," Kevin Pietersen wrote on Twitter.

England and India will play in a four-Test series, with the first two matches set to played in Chennai, before the series moves to Ahmedabad for the final two Tests. The third Test of the series will be a day-night encounter, starting on 24 February.

England squad (for the first two Tests): Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler*, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.