England surprised supporters by announcing Shoaib Bashir, a 20-year-old Somerset off-spinner, as one of three uncapped players in their squad.
Bashir, who has played just six games of first-class cricket for Somerset, has been picked on potential, probably based on his high action and impressive performances on an England Lions training camp in the UAE.
However, Bashir has been ruled out of the first Test after being unable to fly to India because of a visa delay.
In a 16-player touring party the other two men uncapped at Test level are Lancashire left-arm spinner Tom Hartley and Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson. Hartley and Atkinson have both played white-ball cricket for the national team.
Rehan Ahmed, the leg-spinner, is also in the team and there is a fourth spin option in Jack Leach, who is returning from a stress fracture in his back. Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, two other spinners with international experience, have been left out.
There are four seam-bowling options: James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood and Atkinson.
Harry Brook has been ruled out of the early part of the tour while attending to an undisclosed personal matter back in England.
England’s 16-man squad for India
Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood, Dan Lawrence.