Former India skipper Rahul Dravid opined that Team India has a golden chance of beating England in the upcoming Test series in their own backyard. India, which defeated England 3-1, in the four-Test series at home, will face off against England in a series of five Tests.
The series would commence in August, and India is also slated to square off against New Zealand in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) in June.
Virat Kohli (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/ Sportzpics for BCCI
India was beaten 4-1 the last time they toured England for a five-Test series in 2018, which was also the debut series for Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari. Both the players have been chosen in the Indian squad for the series and have had quite a different journey since then.
There Is Only One World-Class Batsman In England’s Top 6-7, Joe Root: Rahul Dravid
India had only one batsman who troubled them a lot during the England Test series at home, Joe Root. He scored a double-ton in his 100th Test in Chennai, becoming the first and only batsman to achieve that feat.
Rahul Dravid felt that only Joe Root and to some extent Ben Stokes are the batsmen Indian bowlers need to worry about.
“I really do think India have a very good chance this time. There’s no question about England’s bowling. Whatever bowling attack England put on the park, especially their seam-bowling attack, is going to be fantastic. They have a lot of players to pick and choose from and that’s going to be terrific,” Dravid as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
“But if you look at their top six or top seven, you really think of one great batsman, a world-class batsman who is Joe Root. Obviously, Ben Stokes is another one, who is a good allrounder, but for some reason Ravichandran Ashwin seems to do well against him. And that should be an interesting contest. I know he’s done well against Stokes in India, but it’ll still be an interesting subplot to the series,” he added.
India will be coming into the series after facing New Zealand in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC), which will be played in Southampton from June 18-23. This will be India’s first-ever neutral Test match.
India Will Be Well-Prepared, Have The Confidence From Australia, There’s Lot Of Belief In The Squad: Rahul Dravid
India had last won a Test series in England in 2007, under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid, when India won the three-Test series 1-0. Dravid felt that thanks to their performances in Australia in Australia and against England at home, Virat Kohli and his men will be very confident going into the England Test series.
“But I just think India will be well-prepared, have the confidence from Australia, there’s lot of belief in the squad. A couple of players have been to England a few times, there’s a lot of experience in the batting order this time around, so this is probably our best chance, maybe say 3-2 to India. I think India will play really well in England this time.
It’s a great opportunity we’ve got. After the WTC final, they’re going to be in England for a whole month before the Test series starts. I don’t think any team has had that kind of time to prepare for a Test series as India will have this time, so that surely should be a great advantage,” said Dravid.
India will engage in a five-match Test series against England with the matches to be played- 1st Test in Nottingham from August 4, 2nd Test at Lord’s from August 13, 3rd Test at Leeds from August 25, 4th Test at Kennington Oval from September 2 and the 5th Test at Manchester from September 10.
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