Kohli-less India look to continue home streak against aggressive England
India have not lost a Test series at home in more than a decade but that formidable record will be under threat when Rohit Sharma’s side take on England in a five-match series beginning in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Ben Stokes returns from knee surgery to skipper the side under coach Brendon Mccullum, with the pair ready to unleash the ultra-aggressive approach which has injected new life into the Test format.
England have not lost a Test series since the duo took charge in 2022 but beating India in India, which former Australia captain Steve Waugh famously called the “final frontier”, remains the toughest challenge in the game.
With their last Test series defeat coming in the 2012-13 season, India will start as favourites despite having a Virat Kohlishaped hole in their batting order.
Kohli will miss the first two matches due to personal reasons and the late development has left India wondering how they will replace arguably the best batter of this era.
Veteran Cheteshwar Pujara finds himself back in the reckon
ing, while uncapped duo Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan are also reported to be in the mix.
Another big question for the hosts is who to pick as wicketkeeper, a key role on India’s generously turning tracks.
Ideally, specialist KS Bharat would be behind the stumps but in Kohli’s absence India may look to KL Rahul’s superior batting.
India’s bid to win a 17th consecutive home Test series, however, hinges on the success of their three-pronged spin attack comprising Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.
Jasprit Bumrah has complimented England for “showing the world there’s another way to play Test cricket” but the pace spearhead believes their approach suits him. “As a bowler, what I think is that it keeps me in play,” Bumrah told the Guardian newspaper. “And if they’re going for it, playing so fast, they won’t tire me out, I could get heaps (of wickets).
England have already been forced to rejig their batting order after Harry Brook withdrew due to personal reasons. Ollie Pope is set to play at number three, while Ben Foakes is likely to reclaim the keeping gloves.