India vs England: Another potential blockbuster

India going to play 3 spinners and 3 pacers considering Chepauk’s reputation to assist slow bowlers or 2 spinners and 2 pacers with Hardik Pandya as an all-rounder?

Cricket fans in India, still in the euphoria of country’s epochal performance against Australia, have another immensely appetising main course to savour as Virat Kohli’s men take on a confident England in a four-match series starting at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday.

Missing their talismanic skipper for three-quarters of the Test series Down Under and losing several other frontline warriors with every passing battle, the Indians, led exceptionally by stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane, pulled off a sensational win as they outplayed, outsmarted and outlasted a full-strength Australia. Needless to say, their 2-1 triumph, including a dramatic chase in the final Test at fortress Gabba, became the talk of the cricketing world.

The Indians though have little time to savour the ‘victory for the ages’ as a determined England have come calling, not just to wrest the Anthony de Mello Trophy but secure a place in the inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord’s this June. India, however, start firm favourites to clinch the series and set-up up a WTC final against New Zealand.

Indians have been almost "invincible" at home with few teams showing the skill and mettle to tame them. Sample this, in the last eight years, India have won 28 out of the 34 home Tests and have lost just one — against Australia in February 2017. They’ve become a near unbeatable force under the insatiable Kohli, who has won a staggering 20 of the 26 Tests as skipper at home, the Australia defeat on a 'poor pitch' in Pune being the only blot in an otherwise glittering resume.

The reason behind India’s home dominance is the wonderful amalgamation of the two forces: batting and bowling. Kohli and Co pile on the runs and the bowlers, led by ace off-spinner R Ashwin, just run oppositions amok with relentless pressure.

While Ashwin and his spinning colleague Ravindra Jadeja, who will miss at least first two Tests after fracturing his left thumb in the third Sydney Test, have been the primary architects of many of India’s wins, what makes them more potent is the brilliant display by the fast bowlers. Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav -- the latter two missing out of the first two Tests owing to injuries -- have been brilliant, especially with the old ball when it starts to reverse.

While Shami and Umesh will be missed, India have the services of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj at their disposal. Bumrah, surprisingly, will be playing his first Test at home and he would pair up with the returning Ishant.

India, who have recently started to unveil their playing XI on match eve, chose to keep the cards close to their chest this time. Are they going to play three spinners and two pacers considering Chepauk’s reputation to assist slow bowlers or two spinners and two pacers with Hardik Pandya as an all-rounder? It’ll be interesting to see who all pair up with Ashwin. Will it be the out of favour but talented Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja’s ‘like-for-like’ replacement Axar Patel or Washington Sundar, who made a smashing debut in Brisbane.

England, the last country to defeat India at home in a Test series in 2012, will be looking at pulling off a surprise. Their captain Joe Root, set to play a milestone 100th Test in the opener, arrives in supreme form and with big-hitting match-winners like Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler in the ranks, they know they can give Indians a tough fight.

Off-spinner Moeen Ali, who has troubled the Indians in the past, could start along with left-arm orthodox Jack Leach. If pace sensation Jofra Archer could get the ball to talk, it’ll make for a nice viewing.

Squads (from): India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur.

England: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

Note: Reserves not listed.