IND v ENG 2021: 3 bold predictions for Team India against England

#2 Ajinkya Rahane to be dropped midway through the series

Ajinkya Rahane's inconsistent form has been a huge worry

The glaring failures of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in India's WTC final loss to New Zealand have cast huge doubts over the duo's ability to score consistently. While Pujara can still perform the role of tiring opposition bowling attacks, Rahane is someone whose spot could be under threat.

Long gone seem the days when Rahane was India's premier batsman in overseas conditions. His sensational hundred as India's captain in last year's Boxing Day Test made everyone believe he was not far from his best. However, his inconsistency since then has been a major subject of debate.

Fully focused on the goal. pic.twitter.com/Mntdo7Moza

— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) July 29, 2021

With KL Rahul scoring a sensational hundred batting at No.5 in the warm-up game, there are many who feel the Karnataka batsman must start ahead of Rahane. While India's team management are unlikely to get rid of their vice-captain almost immediately, Rahane might be on his last lap in Tests if he doesn't perform in the first two Tests.

---

#1 India to win the series 3-2

India are better prepared to compete against England this time

India were thumped 4-1 the last time they toured England in Tests in 2018. Although skipper Virat Kohli scored a couple of hundreds, India's batting as a whole failed to score decent totals consistently.

India's inability to dismiss the opposition tail was another huge factor in England winning the series. The likes of Sam Curran frustrated the Indians with some useful runs down the order and that proved to be the difference between the two sides on a number of occasions.

While India's batting hasn't been that great coming into this series, the hosts too have their own issues in that department. The absence of Ben Stokes will be a huge factor as he was someone who provided incredible balance to the side with both bat and ball.

With a draw being an unlikely result given the vulnerabilities in both the batting line-ups, India might be acclimatized to the conditions having already been practicing on English shores for over a month. We expect India to just pip the hosts 3-2 in the series as a result.

A big hello 👋 from Trent Bridge. Our venue for the 1st Test against England.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/79cVVcf3JH

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 1, 2021