Playing ODI's and T20I's in England Ahead of Test Series Won't Help Much - Gautam Gambhir

Out of favour Indian batsman, Gautam Gambhir has said India’s decision to play limited-overs cricket before Tests wouldn’t have too much bearing on the ultimate result of the series.

The Men in Blue will be playing a three-match ODI and T20I series each fighting it out in a five-match Test series. The schedule has been prepared in such a way that India gets acclimatise to the English conditions.

The decision was taken by the Board for Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was taken especially because India suffered a heartbreaking Test series loss at the hands of South Africa early this year. They lost the first two Tests before coming back with a win in the final Test. It was mainly possible, as India got used to the conditions.

Meanwhile, Gambhir was present at the release of the book “Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians: The On and Off the Field Story of Cricket in India and Beyond by Boria Majumdar. He said playing Test cricket in England is totally different to playing limited-overs cricket.

“White-ball and red-ball cricket is completely different. I don’t think playing limited-overs cricket before Test is going to make a huge difference unless you prepare for Tests also,” Gambhir said.

“The difference in ball is going to have a huge impact. You need to prepare with red ball as well along with playing white-ball cricket. Test cricket in England will be completely different that limited-overs cricket,” the southpaw added.

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Deep Dasgupta feels the scheduling will help India

Meanwhile, former India wicket-keeper, Deep Dasgupta was optimistic about the fact that India will win both the series in England and Australia. He stated the scheduling would surely help India to adjust to the conditions before the Test series arrives.

“The last couple of Test matches in SA was evident enough that if you have right kind preparation even that series could have been different. I have no doubt that we will do well and go on to win the series in England and Australia,” Dasgupta said.

India lost the previous Test series in England by a 1-3 margin. They will surely look to stage a comeback a put a better show this time around. Current skipper Virat Kohli had a horrific series last time around. He only managed to score 134 runs in ten innings at a below-par average of 13.40.

Hence Kohli will be playing county cricket with Surrey in June to get used to the English conditions. Middle-order batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara is already playing county cricket for the Yorkshire.

It will keep him in the right stead ahead of the Test series in England. India will tour England from late June for a full series comprising of three ODI’s, three T20I’s and five Tests. The Test series will begin from 1^st August.

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