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Two of the biggest cricketing nations square off in a five-game Test series on the sub-continent as India host England in what is set to be an intriguing contest between 'Bazball' and the dominance of the hosts on home soil. The series starts on Thursday, January 25.
Two of the biggest cricketing nations square off in a five-game Test series on the sub-continent as India host England in what is set to be an intriguing contest between 'Bazball' and the dominance of the hosts on home soil. The series starts on Thursday, January 25.
India are undefeated in six Test series dating back to 2021-22 and have not lost a match-up at home since 2012-13 when England won 2-1 in a four-match series.
England, meanwhile, haven't lost in seven consecutive Test series since a harrowing loss in the West Indies in 2021-22 which brought an end to the captaincy of Joe Root. However, the visitors have lost the past two meetings between the sides in India by an aggregate score of 7-2.
The hosts are short odds (1/6) to once again win the Anthony de Mello Trophy, with England out at 15/2 and a draw 10/1. The bookies suggest a 4-0, 4-1 or 5-0 win for India are the most likely outcomes, with all three scorelines priced at 4/1.
The suggestion would be to back a series score that boasts results in all five matches – the attacking nature of England's philosophy offers relatively high chances of win-loss outcomes in all Test matches – subject to the weather.
Switching focus to the First Test, which takes place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India are a healthier price of 4/9 to win with England at 7/2 and the draw 11/2. The long-range weather looks set fair, meaning the draw is an unlikely outcome.
With Virat Kohli set to miss the opening two Tests due to personal reasons, eyes will turn to Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who tops Kohli's average in India with 66.73 in 36 innings – including eight centuries. This will be the 36-year-old's first appearance at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
He's joined at the top of the order by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who averages 72.03 in First Class cricket with 10 centuries and 3 50s – showcasing a phenomenal conversion rate. However, since scoring 171 on Test debut against the West Indies, Jaiswal has tallied just 145 runs in six innings.
Joe Root will likely be the main man in Indian conditions, one of the only England batters to excel in the sub-continent. The Yorkshireman hosts an average of 50.10 in 20 innings in India, with two centuries and five 50s. He also ups his game against the hosts – averaging 63.15 in 45 at bats, his highest mark against a Test match opponent.
Ben Duckett may be the best suited batter, outside of Root, to adapt to Indian conditions. The opener plays spin extremely well with an array of sweeps and reverse sweeps in his repertoire to counter the attack of India. The Nottinghamshire man boasts a century and four 50s in Asia at an average of 38.91.
Switching focus to the bowling attacks, eyes are on the superstar trio of Ravichandran Ashwin – ranked #1 in the world – Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.
Ashwin has 337 wickets in India at an average of 20.87 and 26 five-wicket hauls. He is also very comfortable at the venue of the First Test with figures of 12-85, 6-104, 6-171 and 3-73 in his four outings in Hyderabad – averaging 16.04 and taking 6.75 wickets per match.
Bumrah, meanwhile, has just 14 wickets in India – but with an average of 15.64 - and has yet play a Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Jadeja has 194 wickets at 20.45 on home soil, with performances of 6-66, 6-148 and 3-81 at the venue – spin certainly reigns in Hyderabad.
That will facilitate the England spin bowling unit headed by Jack Leach. The left-arm tweaker has 61 wickets in Asia – 18 in India – with a n unimpressive average of 31.57. He'll be joined by young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed. The 19-year-old has played one Test match – in Pakistan - and took 7-137.
