Test cricket is back. Game 6 of 6 between England and India will be played starting July 1, with the Brits getting a chance to level the series. India is currently leading 2-1 and has a chance to really dominate the stage with a win. All eyes will be on Virat Kohli, who will get a chance to score his 71st international century.
Virat Kohli is Back in Action
Virat Kohli had a disastrous IPL 2022 campaign and was rested for the recent T20 series against South Africa. Will the rest help? King Kohli will surely get his chance to bounce back after more than 2 barren years where he hasn’t scored a single century. Training is already underway at Leicestershire and the Indian icon will be hoping to rediscover his mojo ahead of the T20 World Cup in November.
LCI Recommendation: Kohli is approaching a very crucial period in his cricketing career. A failure to perform can lead to the unthinkable – a snub by the selectors.
KL Rahul is Out Injured
KL Rahul, coming off an impressive IPL 2022 campaign, was expected to lead Team India in the series against South Africa. But the batting ace was ruled out due to a groin injury. He hasn’t recovered and has already been named in the absentee list by the Indian coaches. Rahul has arguably been the most dependable batsman in the Indian ranks over the last few years. England can’t complain about this news.
LCI Recommendation: India will be lacking the top-order reliability needed with Rohit Sharma’s unpredictability and Kohli’s poor form. A worrying sign.
Ravindra Jadeja – What’s Going On?
Jadeja was widely regarded as one of the best all-rounders in the world prior to IPL 2022. He was even appointed as the new captain of the Chennai Super Kings, replacing the legendary MS Dhoni. But CSK didn’t win a single game for weeks and Jadeja was dropped from the side altogether. What’s going on with him now? We’ll know pretty soon as he’s expected to be in the starting lineup for the Indians.
LCI Recommendation: Jadeja was expected to peak in 2022, but things are not looking good right now. The LCI tip – don’t bet on him anytime soon.
Fatigue Will Play a Big Part
Hardik Pandya, Rishab Pant, and Shretas Iyer have reached the training camp in Leicestershire after a tiring 5-game series against South Africa, which was played just days after the conclusion of the IPL 2022 season. It’s safe to assume that fatigue will play an important role in the outcome of the upcoming test game. These “not so young” Indian stars are at a high risk of burnout and injuries.
LCI Recommendation: The more the Indian team is in the field, the lower their chances. If England bats first, India will not find it easy as the game progresses.
Our Overall Prediction
England vs India will be a tough match for the Indian cricket team. England is a well-oiled test cricket machine. Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Johnny Bairstow, and Jos Buttler are all playing well. India is clearly not the favourite to win this game since the team is on verge of burnout and Kohli is yet to regain his form. LCI recommends being objective and going against Team India this time. Good luck!