The stage is set for two powerhouses of cricket to reignite their age-old rivalry. India and England are set to add another chapter in their rivalry when the two teams step out on the ground in Hyderabad on January 25 to cross swords in the first of five Test matches. The series promises to live up to all the hype as some of the biggest names of contemporary cricket will look to enthrall fans with their remarkable skills in all three facets of the game.
India are undefeated in the Test series at home since 2012. For the last 12 years, no country has been able to reign supreme on India's home turn in the traditional format of the game.
Having said that, England was the last country to win a Test series in India. Under Alastair Cook's captaincy, the Three Lions pulled off a major upset in 2012.
Over the years, whenever India and England have locked swords in Test matches, fans have been treated to top-level cricket and it has been an emotional rollercoaster. This time, the series promises to elevate the rivalry to another level.
India vs England: Head-to-head in Tests
The Test cricket rivalry between India and England has a storied past, filled with intense and dramatic encounters. As two of the sport's traditional powerhouses, their matches have often been enthralling. The two nations have played 35 Test series against each other and only five times it ended in a draw.
The Three Lions are significantly ahead of India in terms of series wins. England have won 19 Test series against India compared to the latter's 11 series triumphs.
Looking at their overall head-to-head record, England leads India by a significant margin. Out of the 131 Test matches played, India has clinched 31 victories, while England has secured 50 wins. Additionally, 50 of these encounters have concluded in draws.
In matches hosted in India, however, the Indian team boasts a more commanding record. Of the 64 Test matches played on Indian soil, India has triumphed in 22, whereas England has managed to win 14 times.
India vs England: Schedule
1st Test: January 25-29, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
2nd Test: February 2-6, Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
3rd Test: February 15-19, Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
4th Test: February 23-27, SCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi
5th Test: March 7-11, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
Squads
India's squad for first two Tests vs England: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), KS Bharat (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Avesh Khan.
England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root and Mark Wood.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
IND vs ENG: Rahul Dravid drops bombshell ahead of 1st Test, confirms KL Rahul 'won't play as wicket-keeper', says ' selection will be between...'
Is Jasprit Bumrah eyeing Rohit Sharma's Test captaincy post? He drops 'who wouldn't' truth bomb, citing Pat Cummins' example
