ENG Vs IND 2018: I Will Be Surprised if India Doesn't Win the Test Series - Shane Watson

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has backed India to win the five-match Test series against England which have begun on Wednesday (August 1) at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Watson will be “really surprised’ if India doesn’t manage to win the Test series in England. Watson was the star for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He smashed a sensational match-winning century in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Riding on the back of his century, Chennai lifted the IPL title for the third time in 11 years.

While speaking exclusively to India Today, Watson said that India has a great chance of winning the Test series in England. He feels that India, unlike England or Australia is lucky to have so many selection problems.

However, they have some top class players in their ranks. All the 18 squad members are match winners in their own right. Hence, Watson predicted a series victory for India.

I will be surprised if India doesn’t win the series says, Watson:

“England haven’t been playing their best Test cricket recently though they’ve dominated the ODI format. I think it is going to be a great test for Virat Kohli and his team. I wouldn’t be surprised if India won over there. They’ve definitely got the talent and technique to do well in England. So, I’ll be surprised if India doesn’t win,” said Watson.

“To me, who’s sitting this far, it seems to be a perfect storm, how things have come together for the Indians with the people who are available and the selection conundrum that they have at the top of the order,” Watson added.

“This is a great problem for India to have. England and Australia don’t have that problem at the moment where they are trying to fit in the likes of (Shikhar) Dhawan, (Cheteshwar) Pujara, (Murali) Vijay & (KL) Rahul. To be able to fit four of those guys in three is a very good problem to have. The best teams, when they’ve had a long period of success, have such issues to sort,” he further added.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli had a horrendous time in England in 2014. He kept fishing at deliveries outside the off stump and found the edge of the bat on several occasions. He was dismissed seven times in the slip cordon out of the 10 dismissals.

Batting mainstay Kohli managed to score just 134 runs in 10 innings and became a bunny of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. However, Watson feels that Kohli is a mentally tough guy.

Shane Watson feels Virat Kohli will make the series count

“Virat is a very determined guy. There is no doubt that the 2014 series will be something that he would’ve learnt from in a big way,” says Watson.

“From a technical point of view and also mentally, he is a guy who adapts to all conditions. I personally saw that in Australia, him coming out and dominating our fast bowlers on Australian pitches. It just shows his calibre and how he really adjusts little technical things to be able to adjust and turn things around very quickly. This is going to be a huge series in England for Virat,” Watson remarked.

However, Watson was very eager to see KL Rahul play across formats. Rahul was selected in the playing XI for the opening Test at Edgbaston. Watson feels that Rahul is the best player in the world at the moment.

The right-hander KL Rahul has looked in a great touch of late and surely deserved a place in the XI for India.

KL Rahul is the best for me in the world currently says, Shane Watson

“He is the best for me in world cricket right now. I just love the way Rahul plays the game. He is so beautiful to watch. He does it so easily, whether it is against the fast bowlers with the ball swinging around or spin bowling, he has got all shot options,” Watson reiterated.

“To top it, he has got a great defence too. He is incredibly good. So, I have my fingers crossed that he plays this Test series because I absolutely love watching him play. Whether it is T20 like we saw in this year’s IPL, or ODIs or the longer format, he has got all the skills required to dominate against all types of bowling,” Watson said.