Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey

IND vs ENG 1st Test Preview Dream11 Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs ENG 1st Test Dream11 Prediction Today | India vs England 1st Test Key Players | Chennai Pitch Report

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to cricket, the action returns to India. It is pretty remarkable to consider that it’s been nearly a year since cricket has taken place in such a cricket-crazy nation, but it’s a good bet that their fans will be happy to welcome their team back in such circumstances.

What are these circumstances, you ask? Well, India head into this series on the back of one of the all-time great series wins, overcoming endless injuries, extended periods away from home and a 36-all out abomination to seal an incredible 2-1 victory in Australia. Australia’s decision to postpone their South Africa tour puts India in pole position to seal their spot in the World Test Championship Final, and they’ll be after a big performance to keep the momentum going.

The hosts welcome back skipper Virat Kohli, who welcomed a daughter recently. It will be interesting to see what an incredible period in his life translates into on the cricket field, and given his record against England, it might not be long before the “King” is back in full flow.

Onto the challengers. It has been just over eight years since England sealed a magnificent series win in India, courtesy of superb batting and spin bowling. Those two aspects of their game will be put to the ultimate test in the Test cricket’s toughest assignment, and they must hold their own to ensure they can compete. Eyes will be on their key players, namely Root, Stokes and Archer, as well as their inexperienced spin attack, who are yet to bowl with the consistency and control required against elite opposition.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

India:

• Shubman Gill was mighty impressive in Australia (259 runs, avg. 51.80). He scored a classic 91 in his last innings, and is set to make his home debut.
• Rohit Sharma averages 88.33 in 14 home Tests. He has made 11 50+ scores in these 14 Tests, including six centuries.
• Virat Kohli went ballistic the last time England toured India (2016). He scored a mammoth 655 runs in five Tests at an average of 109.66. His partner in crime, Cheteshwar Pujara, who batted nearly 1,000 balls in Australia, scored 401 runs in that 2016 series at an average of 50.12.
• Many can’t wait to see Rishabh Pant in action again. The keeper-batsman was outstanding in Australia, scoring 274 runs at 89.50.
• R Ashwin doesn’t have the best of numbers vs England (avg. 36), but will take heart from his recent performances against Australia + 2016 performance vs England (5 Tests, 28 wickets, avg. 30.25).
• Jasprit Bumrah is yet to play a Test at home. In an incredible career record that reads 79 wickets at 21.59, Bumrah has taken 14 scalps against England at 25.92.

England:

• Joe Root, who is set to play his 100th Test, has a superb record against India. He has scored 584 runs in six Tests in India, at an average of 53.09. Plus, he is coming off a superb Sri Lanka series, where he amassed scores of 228 and 186 in the two Tests.
• Ben Stokes will undoubtedly be key for the tourists. He was solid enough in India in 2016 (345 runs, avg. 38.33), but he’s gone from strength-to-strength since then.
• Jos Buttler will play just the one Test in this series. Can he make an impact? He hit nearly 500 runs in 2020 (avg. 38.33), and played well in Sri Lanka (131 runs, avg. 65.50).
• Former England spinner Graeme Swann has called on Jack Leach to follow the Rangana Herath template. Leach performed well in Sri Lanka (10 wickets in two Tests), but this will be a whole different test for he and Dom Bess.
• Can James Anderson (if picked) continue to produce? He is coming off an excellent 6/40 in the Galle Test. It will be interesting to see how Jofra Archer performs, given that he averages 47 in three Tests away from home.

Stats and Facts

• Apart from Sri Lanka, where they have won five straight Tests, England have won just one of their last seven Tests in the subcontinent (Bangladesh and India).
• India in home Tests since January 2013: Matches 34, 28 wins, six draws, one loss.
• India have not lost a Test at Chennai since 1999 (nine Tests).
• Moeen Ali hit 146 on this ground back in 2016.
• This series will be live on Free-To-Air TV in England (Channel 4). This is the first time that Test cricket will be live on Channel 4 since the 2005 Ashes.

Possible Playing 11

India’s bowling attack, before the Gabba Test, had a combined 13 wickets. The home side will welcome back key personnel, including Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma. According to reports, India could look to play three spinners, with Kuldeep Yadav to partner R Ashwin and Axar Patel or Washington Sundar. If the pitch has a more greenish tinge, they could go with the impressive Mohammed Siraj.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shubman Gill, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Rishabh Pant (wk), 7. Washington Sundar/Axar Patel, 8. Ravichandran Ashwin, 9. Ishant Sharma, 10. Kuldeep Yadav/Mohammed Siraj, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

England welcome back Rory Burns, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer after the trio was rested for Sri Lanka. Zak Crawley’s wrist injury, which will keep him out for two Tests, opens the door for Dan Lawrence to bat at three if England decide that Ollie Pope isn’t fit enough yet after a shoulder injury. If he’s fit, Root could move up to three with Pope at five.

England will also have a call to make regarding their number seven slot, with Moeen Ali a chance to play given the spinning conditions. Also, England could choose between Anderson and Broad, with Archer back in the frame. Anderson’s excellent performance in Sri Lanka, coupled with Broad’s subcontinent struggles throughout his career, could give him the nod.

England: 1. Rory Burns, 2. Dominic Sibley, 3. Dan Lawrence, 4. Joe Root (c), 5. Ben Stokes, 6. Jos Buttler (wk), 7. Moeen Ali, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Dom Bess, 10. James Anderson/Stuart Broad, 11. Jack Leach

MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai Pitch Report and Weather

The last Test on this ground was between these two sides in 2016. England amassed 477, only to then lose by an innings, after Karun Nair hit a triple-century en-route to a mammoth 759/7d by India.

The pitch is likely to start off as one that is good for batting, but then break up as the Test goes on. According to reports, the track has an “unusually England feel” to it, with a tinge of green to assist India’s pace attack. Temperatures are expected to be in the 30s throughout the Test, so the very hot conditions could contribute to the spinners having a say throughout the game.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

Can England do enough to take 20 wickets? If so, can they score enough runs? They are fundamental questions, but doubts surround England’s ability to do both, particuarly straight away in the series.

India, back at home and off the back of an amazing series win in Australia, should win this.

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