Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has tipped India as heavy favorites to win the upcoming Test series against England.
India will be locking horns with England in a four-match Test series at home and Chappell feels that that apart from the confidence that the home side will be riding on following the Test series win in Australia, the fact that the Men in Blue will be bolstered with the inclusion of the likes of Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, makes them an impregnable force.
“India will start as favourites after an exhilarating victory over Australia, overcoming all obstacles. When you add the name Virat Kohli to the batting order, the team suddenly assumes a bulletproof cloak,” Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
“In also adding the names R Ashwin, Hardik Pandya and Ishant Sharma to the list of available players, India take on an unbeatable appearance.” he added.
Chappell further added that India’s superior top-order, as opposed to England’s struggles at the top against spin, scales the tip in the home side’s favour.
“However it’s the top of the England order, where another returning player, Rory Burns, will reside, that the scales tip in India’s favour.” he said. India’s top three feature an impressive Shubman Gill, a talented but flawed Rohit Sharma and the indomitable Cheteshwar Pujara, which places them well ahead of England’s top order.” he added.
With Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley struggling in Sri Lanka, Ian Chappell feels that if their struggles continue in India then it could put a huge pressure on the Joe Root-led middle-order.
“Dom Sibley possesses the grit and determination required for success at the highest level but there are questions about his technique against the best international bowlers,” Ian Chappell said. ”Burns is another in the same category as Sibley, and if both players fail the challenges England will be in trouble unless Joe Root continues to score at his current freakish level.” he added.
“Zak Crawley, like his Indian counterpart Gill, is talented and has great potential. Nevertheless his failure to contribute in Sri Lanka raises concerns that need to be put to rest quickly and there’s no better place or time to do that than in India.” Chappell added.
The former Australian captain also reckoned that both sides’ boast of comparable fast bowling attacks.
“The presence of Archer, along with the skill and experience of stalwarts Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, would normally provide England with an advantage in the pace department,” he said. However India’s improvement in that category is amply illustrated by their performance in matching Australia’s much-vaunted pace attack in two successive away series,’ he added.
“Not only does India now have quality pace bowling but they also have it in comforting quantities following the depth displayed in Australia,” Chappell said.
Even the middle-order of both sides, according to Ian Chappell, is equally strong.
“Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant and the possible addition of Pandya have India well placed to take full advantage of any good start,” Ian Chappell said. England are similarly placed with Stokes and Jos Buttler as their lethal weapons. The possible return of Ollie Pope would add some dependability to the threatening nature of that section of the batting order,” he added.
The four-match Test series between India and England will kickstart in Chennai on February 05.
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