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India Vs England 2021 Test Match Preview
Chennai Test will be Root’s 100th Test as India looks favorite after historic win against Australia
Former England captain Mike Gatting in his India Vs England 2021 Test preview has commented that in the upcoming Test series England tour of India, commencing on 5th February at MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai, two cricketers must be watched. One is Virat Kohli who is coming back to cricket after a break and the other one is Ben Stokes who was rested for England’s recent tour of Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli had returned from Australia after the first test at Adelaide in India’s last Test series in Australia where the visitors had historic victory.
However, going by the history of the India-England Test series, statistics reveal that out of 122 Tests, played between the two countries so far, England has 47 and India have won in 27 Tests while 49 Tests ended in a draw. Even in the last meeting between the two countries, England defeated India by 118 runs.
India Vs England 2021 Test preview must mention that this is going to be the first international cricket series after the COVID-19 pandemic while the last Test series took place in India when Australia came here on Indian soil in early 2020 to participate in three One Day International (ODIs) and conceded 1-2 defeat finally.
The first Test is going to be staged behind closed doors as a precautionary measure due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation. However, the second Test, to be played in the same venue from 13th February will have 50 percent spectators of the total capacity.
Despite having missed several key players in the series against Australia, Ajinkya Rahane-led Indian team earned the memorable victory in the Test series and that is the key reason the Indian team is expected to be high on confidence before they take on England on a four-Test series.
After having cleared their COVID-19 tests, with no positives, Team India players were out for their first outdoor session at the stadium on 1st February, Monday. The former England international cricketer Nasser Hussain and former Indian international cricketer Gautam Gambhir in their opinion on the Test, is favoring India. The key reason is India’s historic Test series victory and the return of Virat Kohli and six other important cricketers in the side. Alongside, Team India will have Jasprit Bumrah and R. Ashwin, the two key players in the side. Ravindra Jadeja’s absence is undoubtedly a blow for Team India but Kuldeep Yadav, the Chinaman bowler who has a bright chance of getting into the playing eleven, can also pose a big threat to England batsmen. Ishant Sharma who could not play in the Australia series might also return to the playing eleven while the top six batsmen in Team India including Kohli are expected to be full of enthusiasm following their stupendous show Down Under.
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India Vs England 2021 Test preview also divulges that England which has made its last inclusion of Ollie Pope in the Test squad also has arrived in India with a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka at their home. More importantly, their two key men who can be match-winner any time, Ben Stokes and the fast bowler Jofra Archer were rested for Sri Lanka will be fresh against India and Joe Root, the England captain might steal the limelight as Chennai Test will be his 100th Test match which he also will be trying to make memorable. Joe Root had a superb 426-run haul that played an instrumental role in England's 2-0 series victory against Sri Lanka. England's batting consultant in India, Jonathon Trott has commented that considering Root's outstanding form in Sri Lanka, England even might earn the edge mainly due to Root in India also. Root’s debut in Test cricket was in 2012 against India.
