ENG vs IND 2018: India Are The Only Side That Can Beat England In Their Backyard: Ravindra Jadeja

India spinner Ravindra Jadeja has insisted India can dominate England in the about-to-start five-match Test series.

All-rounder Jadeja is confident the experienced Indian team and the luxury of options would help the visitors to give the hosts a tough time.

“One good thing about Indian cricket is that we have options. Most of the international teams don’t have bowling options left after retirement, but we have everything right now. We have a positive approach towards this series and we genuinely feel that we are the only side that can beat England in their own backyard,” Jadeja told ESPNcricinfo.

“Yes, we have more experienced players and most of our players have played a minimum of 25-30 Test matches. Experience is useful in Test Cricket. England have good fast bowlers who can exploit their home conditions,” Jadeja added.

But while Jadeja is confident about the success, Virat Kohli-led side India can put up a good show in England, history and India’s recent overseas record, however, are not in their favour.

Since the tour of 2007 when Rahul Dravid-led India to a fine victory in the Test series the team has endured a torrid time in England.

In 2011, India had gone to England as the World No.1 Test side. However, the ranking and reputation made little difference, as Andrew Strauss and his men inflicted a humiliating 4-0 whitewash upon the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side.

Three years later, the margin of the defeat decreased. But there was no end to India’s misery, as England thrashed them 3-1 in the Test series.

Moreover, India recently lost the series in South Africa, raising concerns over their potential to deliver in testing overseas conditions.

Well, only time will tell whether India manages to justify their number one ranking this time or not.

Jadeja further said that the team has returned to England as a wiser unit.

“We also have some good bowlers, but during our 2014 tour, we didn’t have enough experience. We were unaware of how the wicket would behave and how the weather will be. Now we are aware of the conditions and after so much experience in Test Cricket, I feel we can even dominate them,” he said.

India could play two spinners in the game. It eventually makes it a three-way fight between Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and the young Kuldeep Yadav.

Moreover, Ravindra Jadeja admitted that any player for England Test could be picked while praising Kuldeep who has done extremely well for India.

“Anything can happen. Kuldeep has really been playing well,” said Jadeja.

The much-awaited Test series gets underway on Wednesday (August 1) in Birmingham.