We Have Moved From Being Admirers Of Team India To Their Enemy: Stuart Broad

England pacer Stuart Broad has said that his team has moved on from being ‘admirers’ to the ‘enemy’ of the Indian Cricket Team in the space of two weeks as the visitors’ build-up for the four-match Test series, starting in Chennai from February 05.

Despite being bruised, battered, humiliated post the shambles of 36 all-out in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval and the absence of Virat Kohli [patrernity leave] and first-choice cricketers due to injuries, Team India, under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane scripted a triumph for the ages by beating Australia in Melbourne and their fortress Gabba to notch up consecutive Test series wins Down Under.

The manner in which the young Indian team went about their business captured the heart and minds of the cricketing folklore around the world and Stuart Broad, in his column for the ‘Daily Mail’, confirmed that the Men in Blue had a lot of supporters within the English team throughout the series-decider at the Gabba.

“This is not an easy place to tour, and India’s confidence will be sky high from winning at the Gabba to complete a series victory in Australia earlier this month. I can tell you that they had supporters within this England team throughout that decisive match in Brisbane,” Stuart Broad wrote in ‘Daily Mail’.

Broad heaped high praise on India, stating that they are the rightful holders of the numero-uno spot in the World Test Championship table. He, however, added that the English team has moved on from being admirers to being the Virat Kohli-led side’s enemy as they aim to conquer the toughest challenge in world cricket in the modern-era- beating India in their den.

They are the World Test Championship leaders for good reason. But we have moved from being admirers to their enemy within a couple of weeks and what we cannot do is build India up in our minds. They are not impregnable,” wrote Stuart Broad.

The last time England traveled to India, they were thumped 0-4 in a five-match series by Virat Kohli’s men. The Joe Root-led side will hope to reverse their fortunes this time around.