India v England test cricket betting preview & tips | Jan 25-29

India v England 1st Test preview

The highly anticipated Test series between India and England is about to kick off in Hyderabad this week, marking a challenging phase for the ‘Bazball’ phenomenon in the toughest assignment in cricket.

Under the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, the English cricket team has shown commendable performance, remaining undefeated in series since their takeover in the summer of 2022.

However, the challenge becomes significantly more daunting when facing India away. No team has secured a series victory on Indian soil since England’s triumph in 2012, making it one of the most formidable tasks in Test cricket.

India, dominant at home with only three losses in 40 Tests over the past decade, poses concerns for England as they start the series in Hyderabad. The upcoming matches in Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala present a formidable challenge for the visiting batsmen, who expect a rigorous trial by spin.

Recalling the 2021 tour, Joe Root’s double-century in Chennai set the stage for an unexpected first Test victory. However, India’s spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, showcased their prowess, dismissing England for low scores in the subsequent matches.

With Ashwin, Axar, and Ravindra Jadeja forming a formidable slow-bowling trio, India holds a significant advantage in spin-friendly conditions.

Both England and India face setbacks, with key batters Harry Brook and Virat Kohli missing due to personal reasons. Kohli will sit out the first two Tests, while England hopes for Brook’s return later in the tour.

India, yet to name a replacement for Kohli, may reshuffle the middle order, considering options like moving Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul up the order. Rahul, relieved from wicketkeeping duties, adds flexibility to the team. The hosts also suffer the absence of paceman Mohammed Shami due to an ankle injury.

Without Brook, Ben Foakes is likely to return as the wicketkeeper, with Jonny Bairstow playing as a batter. Captain Stokes, who has recovered from knee surgery, will refrain from bowling. Rehan Ahmed is expected to be the second spinner ahead of Tom Hartley on the anticipated turning pitch, with Joe Root providing backup.

Uncapped Shoaib Bashir remains unavailable due to a visa issue and is still in Abu Dhabi.

India v England 1st Test top tips & odds

India v England betting tips

Betting against India on their home turf seems almost inconceivable, even without King Kohli. The challenge of winning cricket games in India is globally recognised, evident in the Indian Test team losing only two of their last 26 home matches. Despite England handing India one of those losses in the 2021 tour, India clinched the series 3-1 with emphatic margins of victory: 317 runs, 10 wickets, and by an innings and 25 runs. Surprisingly, there’s still value at -232.56 for them to win the first Test.

In the absence of Virat Kohli initially, India turns to Rohit Sharma for leadership and batting prowess. Rohit’s substantial contribution of 345 runs in the 2021 series, coupled with his current form, positions him as a crucial player. With challenging pitches expected, Rohit’s pivotal role lies in effectively capitalising on the new ball, making him a promising bet to top the run-scoring charts for India in their first innings.

England, dormant in Test cricket since the conclusion of the Ashes in July, faces the challenge of rebounding from a surprising early exit in the 50-over World Cup in India last November. The responsibility falls on openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett to provide solid starts, considering their struggles in previous tours of India. Duckett’s first-innings runs line of 23.5 appears to be a smart play with top online bookmakers. In the recent series in Pakistan, Duckett demonstrated his prowess with innings of 107, nought, 63, 79, 26, and an unbeaten 82. His stellar performances last summer, including a score of 182 against Ireland and 98 and 83 in the Ashes Test at Lord’s, solidified his position at the top of the order.

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