Leeds, England:
India has not won a test series on English soil since 2007. A generation of crickets failed to take series honors on England’s fabled fields, including the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Pujara and Rishabh Pant.
They came closest on the last tour. India led 2-1 in 2021 but the pandemic forced the fifth and final test at Edgbaston to be postponed for 10 months to mid-2022, and India lost control of it with an ordinary second innings. The series was drawn.
India and England begin another five-test series for the rebranded Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy from Friday in Leeds.
So what makes India think it can win this time?
South Africa:
The Proteas’ triumph in the World Test Championship finals at Lord’s last weekend should inspire all underdogs. A world-class bowling attack combined with a modest batting lineup gradually minimized their fear of failure and overcame a star-studded Australia.
India’s team has bigger reputations than South Africa’s but the comparison is apt for now because India is in transition after the retirements of past captains Kohli and Sharma, and former No. 1-ranked test bowler Ashwin.
The reins have been passed to Shubman Gill. He’s 25 and yet to flourish as a test batter, with a 35 average. England white-ball star Jos Buttler, who played under Gill in the recent Indian Premier League, believes Gill’s captaincy will be a mix of Kohli’s in-your-face energy and Sharma’s cool and calculating demeanor.
“He’s pretty calm and measured when he speaks, but (it’s) interesting, I feel like on the field he’s got a bit of fight about him, a bit of intensity, quite passionate,” Buttler told the podcast For the Love of Cricket.
Gill is overseeing a top-notch bowling attack but an untested batting lineup.
India’s Batting Line up:
The top order is expected to roll out first-time England tourist Yashasvi Jaiswal, senior batter Lokesh Rahul, debutant Sai Sudharsan and Gill.
The middle order features Karun Nair one of the great comeback stories wicketkeeper Pant and ace spinner Jadeja. The tail has Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy as the fast bowling allrounder, Arshdeep Singh on debut or Prasidh Krishna as the third seamer, and Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
Nair debuted against England in late 2016 and in his third test he scored 303 not out, only the second Indian to achieve a triple century. But within three months he was axed, and according to him, without explanation. Sustained domestic excellence a first-class average of nearly 50 earned Nair a recall at age 33, and this month he warmed up with 204 for India A against England Lions.
Bumrah led the 2021 series with 23 wickets in five tests (Siraj had 18). But Bumrah is playing only three tests this time, and definitely Headingley, to keep his back healthy. Bumrah was favored to replace Sharma as captain but with limited availability, he ruled himself out of the job. Whichever three tests he plays, the world’s best fast bowler will still be England’s biggest threat.
Pitch conditions at Headingley, Leeds:
As of today the pitch at Headingley looks very grassy, giving seam bowlers a good run in the first innings, but sources tell that the curator and groundsmen will cut more grass in the coming days.
Traditionally the pitch at Headingley acts fast, pacey and bouncy, making it difficult for the batters to settle and score. It is also known as the graveyard of asian batters.
India returns to England chasing a Test series win that has eluded them since 2007. With a young captain in Shubman Gill, a fiery bowling attack, and fresh faces in the batting lineup, the team enters a tough challenge starting at Headingley, a venue known to expose Asian teams. If Gill’s side can overcome the odds on this swinging turf, it could mark the start of a bold new era in Indian Test cricket.
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