India vs England 2020-21, 1st Test: Will Rishabh Pant feature in playing XI? Virat Kohli reveals

India is all geared up to take on England and defend its Anthony de Mello Trophy in a four-Test series. It all gets underway from Friday, at the MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai.

The Indian side mostly consists of the players, coming off a victorious outing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in Australia, besides featuring some senior players, returning from a break on an injury. One of the talking points for the playing XI is if young wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant would feature in the playing XI.

Speaking on the same during the pre-match press conference, on Thursday, Indian skipper Virat Kohli avered that he would indeed start in the playing XI. "Rishabh Pant will start (in the first Test). He is in good headspace and he has come along very nicely. He is working hard on all aspects of the game. There is good reason what he did in Australia gives all of us hope going ahead," he said, reports PTI.

Pant is coming off a terrific outing in Australia, where he finished as the side's highest run-scorer, scoring 274 runs in five innings at an average of 69.89, including twin half-centuries. His crucial knock of 97 allowed India to ensure a draw in Sydney, besides playing an unbeaten knock of 89, which secured India's historic win.

Nonetheless, Kohli also asserted that the focus would be on bowlers, who can even bat when needed, keeping in mind the kind of balanced side England possesses. On the same note, while Ravichandran Ashwin has become a specialist all-rounder, Shardul Thakur is known to have good batting skills, along with bowling all-rounder, Washington Sundar, as these players are likely to be in the reckoning for Friday's playing XI.