India vs England 2021, 1st Test: Match Preview And Prediction

The hosts India will now face the visitors England in the first game of the four-match Test series from Friday (5th February) morning. MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk, Chennai) will host this Test series opener.

This Test series will be a part of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship. While New Zealand have just qualified for the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, the second finalist will be confirmed at the end of the India vs England Test series as India, England and Australia still have the chances to advance for the final of this Test Championship.

India vs England 2021, 1st Test: Match Preview

India

The hosts India are really confident ahead of this Test series due to their hard-fought Test series victory in the Australia tour despite missing many regular Test players. Many experts believe that the Indian team can comfortably win this home Test series against England. However, the confident home players are unlikely to be overconfident before securing this crucial Test series, especially after seeing strong Australian team’s failure against them.

Captain Virat Kohli has returned to the squad along with the front-line pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and versatile cricketer KL Rahul. Test uncapped all-rounder Axar Patel, who has already played 38 ODIs and 11 T20Is, has also been added in this Test squad.

In overall, before the beginning of this Test series against England, the Indian squad is complete in most of the aspects. Though the home team management may face little difficulties to sort out the playing XI, they are likely to set up the best playing XI for this first Test.

Full Squad

Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur

Recent Test forms (Oldest to latest): Lost, Won, Draw and Won

England

The visitors England will get the toughest challenge in this Test series and all their players are aware of this. Though they landed in India after completing the whitewash in Sri Lanka Test series (won by 2-0), the hosts Indian team are totally different as they are stronger with more experiences.

However, England have some good names who must have to play big roles in this India tour to provide crucial success for the visitors. In-form Joe Root is definitely one of these England cricketers. In the recently concluded Test series in Sri Lanka, Joe Root won the deserving Player of the Series award as well as Player of the Match awards in both those Test matches for scoring two big centuries, including one double-century (228, 1, 186 & 11).

Jos Buttler also played some crucial roles in that Sri Lanka tour as he scored 30, 55 and 46 not out respectively in that Test series. However, they have rested Jonny Bairstow for the first two Tests in the ongoing India tour, despite he finished as England’s second most run-scorer in Sri Lanka Test series (139 runs in 4 innings).

All-rounder Ben Stokes, who missed the recent Sri Lanka tour, needs to play a big role in this Test series to provide success for England against India. Moeen Ali has also returned to the Test side, who travelled in Sri Lanka but missed out both the Tests due to COVID-19 positive results.

Experienced pacer James Anderson and Stuart Broad can play a big role in this Test series, especially with the new balls. Other pacers Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes will try to prove themselves on the Indian Test pitches.

England off-spinner Dom Bess and left-arm spinner Jack Leach will be crucial during the Test series against India. Both of them bowled really well in the Sri Lanka Test series as Bess got 12 wickets and Leach picked up 10 wickets in that Test series. But as Moeen Ali is also returning to the Test squad, Bess can face some tough challenges for the England’s Test playing XI.

Full Squad

Joe Root (C), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stones, Chris Woakes

Recent Test forms (Oldest to latest): Won and Won

India vs England 2021, 1st Test: Match Prediction

Many experts believe that the hosts India are completely favourite for this Test series. After suffering the Pune Test defeat against Australia in February 2017, India are unbeaten in the home Tests. Since then, they have played 14 home Tests, where the hosts won 11 matches and drew thrice. Also, since June 2018, India have won all there 8 home Tests.

So, India are favourite for this opening game of the Test series. However, the visitors England will try their best to provide some strong challenges to boost their confidence for this crucial Test series.