Openers: KL Rahul, Ben Duckett

KL Rahul was a pillar of composure and technique throughout the series. Partnering him is Ben Duckett, who edges out Yashasvi Jaiswal for the second opener`s slot thanks to his reliability and several game-shaping knocks across the series

No. 3 and No. 4: Joe Root, Shubman Gill

The No. 3 position was a weakness for both teams, with Sai Sudharsan and Ollie Pope failing to make significant impact. Instead, Joe Root and Shubman Gill earn spots at No. 3 and 4, respectively. Root amassed 537 runs with his usual finesse, while Gill stood tall as India’s batting mainstay, finishing with 754 runs and earning praise for his leadership

Middle order: Harry Brook, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja

Harry Brook’s aggressive batting style yielded critical contributions, including centuries at Edgbaston and The Oval. Rishabh Pant, despite missing the final Test due to injury, scored 479 runs at an average nearing 70, securing the wicketkeeper’s spot

Ben Stokes demonstrated his all-round brilliance, collecting 304 runs and 17 wickets. Jadeja, meanwhile, was a match-winner with the bat, his crucial fifties and a hundred were vital in India’s fightbacks

Pacers: Mohammed Siraj, Josh Tongue, Akash Deep

Mohammed Siraj was India’s standout seamer, finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the series with 23 wickets and a match-winning spell at The Oval. England’s Josh Tongue impressed with his pace and movement, consistently troubling batters. Akash Deep takes the third seamer’s spot over Jasprit Bumrah due to his decisive impact, especially during the Edgbaston Test. Bumrah, though effective, was hampered by injuries and missed the series decider (Photo: BCCI)