England skipper Ben Stokes opted to bat in the opening Test of the five-match series against India in Hyderabad on Thursday.India picked left-arm spinner Axar Patel ahead of Kuldeep Yadav.

KL Rahul is set to bat at No 4 in absence of Virat Kohli, while Srikar Bharat will be the man behind the stumps.

England handed debut cap to lanky left-arm spinner Tom Hartley.