Can England challenge India's home dominance?
India's unalloyed dominance at home over the last 12 years will be put through its most unique examination till date when Rohit Sharma's side faces a trend-defying England in the first Test in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Image Source: TOI
Team India on a roll!
No team has been as invincible as India at home since their 1-2 defeat against the Three Lions led by Alastair Cook in 2012, stitching together a bull run of 16 successive series wins, including seven series sweeps.
Image Source: PTI
Lost just three Tests out of 44 since 2012
If one further breaks down the stats, India have lost just three Tests out of 44 they played in their own backyard in this phase, and this is a power walk even beyond the all-conquering West Indies in the '80s or Australia of the turn of the century.
Image Source: PTI
Hyderabad all set for Ashwin-Jadeja show
From Thursday, the Ravichandran Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja duet will be on show at the RGI Stadium, where the pitch is expected to turn and grip as the match moves towards its conclusion.
Image Source: PTI
Ashwin - Team India's trump card
The 37-year-old Ashwin still retains the burning zest of a 17-year-old to keep improving his craft and since 2012, Ashwin has grabbed 283 wickets from 46 Tests averaging a shade over 19.
Image Source: Getty Images
Jadeja - A threat for England
Jadeja might often get viewed as a supporting act to Ashwin, but in his own right, the Saurashtra man is a potent threat, and his deliveries that dart on straight could confuse the batters on a turner.
Image Source: TOI
Axar-Kuldeep dilemma for Team India
In all likelihood, India will also include a third spinner to the combination in the form of either Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav, with the former having a better chance at the moment.
Image Source: X
England need to tame the demons
England will be aware that no amount of preparation involving scruffing up pitches some 1600 miles away in Abu Dhabi will be enough to tackle this real menace, and in that sense, they will also need to tame the demons inside their own minds.
Image Source: AP
Kohli's absence big relief for England
What could work for England is that India will not have the presence and solidity of Virat Kohli at No. 4, as he has skipped the opening two Tests owing to personal reasons. The star batter has made 1991 runs against them from 28 matches with five hundreds.
Image Source: Getty Images
Shreyas-KL to lead India's middle order
Middle-order batter Rajat Patidar is expected to join the squad as a replacement for Kohli for the Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam matches, though India's No. 4 and 5 will be Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul with KS Bharat doing the wicket-keeping duties.
Image Source: Getty Images
Stokes devastated over Bashir issue
The whole furor over the return of young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir after the delay in processing his Indian visa too might have disturbed them ahead of an important fixture. Skipper Stokes has already stated that he is "devastated" for the 20-year-old rookie.
Image Source: Getty Images
England pin hopes on veteran Joe Root
Notwithstanding that, the visitors need more than one element to come together for a meaningful fight and big runs from veteran Joe Root and Stokes would most definitely be the most crucial aspect.
Image Source: PTI
Left-arm spinner Hartley to make Test debut
England, perhaps showing respect to the conditions, opted for three spinners led by left-armer Jack Leach. Another left-armer in Tom Hartley will make his debut with Rehan Ahmed providing the leg-spin option. This makes Mark Wood their sole pacer.
Image Source: Getty Images
English (US) ·