Former India captain Rahul Dravid has said that this is India’s best chance to register a series win in England and predicted a 3-2 win for Virat Kohli and his men. He feels India will be confident after the win in Australia, and the one month after the WTC final will help India prepare really well.
The last time India won a Test series in England was way back in 2007. Rahul Dravid was the skipper back then as he led India to a 1-0 win in a three-match Test series. Since then, India haven’t tasted success in England. They lost 0-4 in 2011 before losing 1-3 in 2014 despite having a 1-0 lead after the second Test in a five-match series.
In 2018, the series scoreline may reflect 4-1 in favour of England, but India played really well and were in solid positions in each of the Test matches except for the one in Lord’s (second Test). However, the Virat Kohli-led side couldn’t seize the big moments, and hence, they ended up on the wrong side.
However, Dravid feels India have a bright chance of winning the Test series in England this time around. He feels India will be well prepared, and they will have the confidence from the outstanding and jaw-dropping Test series win in Australia. Moreover, a few of their players have already toured England a few times.
Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami will be touring England for the third time for a Test series. Meanwhile, this will be the fourth Test tour to England for Ishant Sharma. Thus, Dravid predicted that India might win the series 3-2.
“I really do think India have a very good chance this time. I just think India will be well-prepared, have the confidence from Australia, there’s lot of belief in the squad. A couple of players have been to England a few times, there’s a lot of experience in the batting order this time around, so this is probably our best chance, maybe say 3-2 to India,”
Dravid was quoted saying in a webinar which was organised by Live Aid India.
India have picked a 20-man squad for the tour of England, and they will be in the United Kingdom for three and a half months. The Virat Kohli-led are scheduled to fly to the UK on the 2nd of June, and they will play the World Test Championship final against New Zealand on the 18th of June in Southampton.
The five-match Test series against England kickstarts on the 4th of August in Nottingham. Hence, India have ample time in England before starting the Test series, and Dravid admits that it will be a great advantage. It will only help India prepare well.
“I think India will play really well in England this time. It’s a great opportunity we’ve got. After the WTC final, they’re going to be in England for a whole month before the Test series starts. I don’t think any team has had that kind of time to prepare for a Test series as India will have this time, so that surely should be a great advantage,“
Dravid further added.
India have named four spinners in their 20-man squad. But they don’t usually play two spinners in the same XI when they travel overseas. However, suppose the playing XI that they played in Australia is anything to go by. In that case, there is a massive chance that India could play both Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the playing XI. Both spinners have been in solid form with the bat. I particular, Jadeja has improved massively with the bat and has constantly got big runs.
Dravid admitted that playing both Jadeja and Ashwin in the XI could give India great balance.
“Yeah, why not? I mean, India has had success with that kind of line-up and especially with the way Ashwin and Jadeja have been batting at the moment, it gives them the best all-round balance,”
Dravid elaborated when asked if playing Jadeja and Ashwin in the playing XI was an option.
