India Vs England: IND vs ENG, 1st Test Preview: India’s unassailable home dominance faces a unique test against England | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: In Test cricket history, few narratives have been as compelling as India’s unassailable dominance on home soil over the last 12 years. However, this unyielding stronghold faces a unique test as Rohit Sharma‘s formidable side takes on England in the first match of a much-anticipated five-Test series starting Thursday.
India’s record at home since their 1-2 defeat against Alastair Cook’s England in 2012 is nothing short of extraordinary.
With a staggering 16 successive series wins, including seven series sweeps, the Indian cricketing juggernaut has left opponents in its wake. In this period, India has lost a mere three Tests out of 44 played on home turf, establishing a reign that surpasses even the legendary West Indies of the ’80s and Australia at the turn of the century.
Integral to this unparalleled success has been the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Their combined prowess has yielded 500 wickets at an average of 21 since 2012, creating a formidable spin fortress that visiting teams find challenging to breach.

The stage is set at the RGI Stadium in Hyderabad, where the pitch is expected to offer turn and grip, playing to the strengths of India’s spin maestros. England, having experienced the duo’s magic on past visits, is acutely aware of the daunting challenge that lies ahead.
England’s chances get a little boost by the absence of Virat Kohli in the opening two Tests. Kohli, a towering figure in Indian Test cricket, has been a prolific run-scorer against England, and his void leaves a significant gap in the middle order.

Despite the challenges, India remain a formidable opponent. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will anchor the batting order, with KS Bharat taking up wicket-keeping duties in Kohli’s absence. The depth in India’s squad ensures a seamless transition, with Rajat Patidar joining as a replacement for the second Test.
However, England, under the leadership of Ben Stokes and the coaching of Brendon McCullum, has forged a brand of cricket known as ‘Bazball’ – an aggressive, fearless approach that has yielded success, including a recent 3-0 Test series win in Pakistan.
This style, characterized by attacking intent and audacious strokes, will face its sternest test on sub-continental tracks that offer turn and bounce.
The lead-up to the series has been marred by the delayed arrival of young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, held back due to visa issues.
Stokes expressed his dismay, acknowledging the frustration of Bashir’s absence. The disruption adds a layer of uncertainty for England as they grapple with the spin challenge and strive to maintain the aggressive tempo that defines ‘Bazball.’
The series opener in Hyderabad promises to be a captivating clash between India’s home dominance and England’s trend-defying approach. As the ‘Bazball’ strategy faces the ultimate examination on turning tracks, cricket enthusiasts await a spectacle that could either extend India’s reign or witness a remarkable upset by the visitors.
Teams (from):
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, KS Bharat (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan.
England: Ben Stokes (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Dan Lawrence, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood.
Match starts at 9:30 AM IST.

(With inputs from PTI)