5 Indian Players that England must find a way to go past

The England-India Test Series starting 1st August is one that is expected to be evenly contested and a series in which both the teams have equal chances of winning against the other. While the hosts England will fancy their chances against India in the longest format of the game, India, too, are sensing an opportunity to win a potential Test Series in England, something which they have failed to do despite the historic Test Match win at the Lords in their previous visit.

That being said there are a few concerns in both the teams, something that they would like to work on ahead of a stern Test series comprising of 5 Test matches in a little over six weeks’ time.

However, here are a few Indian players whom England should find a way to get past if they are aiming at a series win. A series win is the least England are expecting after a not so very great sporting summer for the England fans and supporters.

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#5 Ajinkya Rahane

Is Rahane still good enough in overseas conditions?

It is true that Rahane hasn’t been his fluent self in the previous few Test series but it is too soon to forget that he has been India’s go-to man in overseas conditions for quite some time now and India must back him to come good in the English conditions.

If Rahane finds his form and rhythm, the middle order looks way more solid and removes the extra bit of pressure on the same batsmen to deliver time and again. It is not without a reason that Rahane has a healthy average in Test Cricket and more so in overseas conditions than in home conditions.

However, if England do manage to pick up Rahane early, they can expose a huge vulnerability in the Indian batting order.

#4 Muraji Vijay

A lot depends on how Vijay bats at the top of the order

The Tamil Nadu batsman is a vital cog of the Indian Test Team and a lot depends on how he bats at the top of the order. Vijay is known for his endured concentration and for taking his innings deep while the others around him look to score off every scoring opportunity. However, with an average of just over 40 in Tests, it is evident that Vijay hasn’t been able to find the big scores after getting set.

The English bowlers would be more than happy to get his wicket in the first session itself and not bowl tirelessly at him for long wicketless spells.

#3 Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja is not the lone left-arm spinner in the squad

Spinners are most likely to be the ones who decide the match. It is in this context that Ravindra Jadeja would come into the picture. Make no mistake, he is not the only Indian left-arm spinner this series and he may well have to wait for his turn, in case left arm leggie Kuldeep is preferred over him.

However, Jadeja is a class apart when it comes to Test Cricket and has been instrumental in many Test matches and series wins. But in English conditions, where the spinners might have to play the second lead, the street-smart bowling of Jadeja might not prove to be good enough.

The batsmen have to find a way to score off him because if they struggle against Sir Jadeja, he won’t need a second invitation to come and blow the England batsmen away.

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin has been the architect of many famous Indian wins

Only because it is an away series none of the cricket experts has talked about R Ashwin yet. One can almost sense him taking full advantage of this situation and creating his own strategies for the England batsmen who are not as confident players of spin bowling as they are against seamers.

Ashwin coming to his own is a very happy sign for an Indian fan, for when the off spinner makes the ball do the talking, there is no better sight to witness.

From England’s perspective, if they manage to keep Ashwin wicketless, they would fancy their chances at a big total on the board.

#1 Virat Kohli

Virat is the most prized wicket in the Indian batting order

Amidst all the chaotic questions that surround Indian batting, one man quietly sits there in the middle order, wanting to prove a point to no one else but himself- India’s captain Virat Kohli. It is pretty clear that the series will be decided based on how well India’s batting responds to overseas conditions and how Virat leads the Indian batting order.

He is the most prized wicket in that batting order- for all those men- Dhawan, Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Rahane can score runs on their day but very few, if any, score with the same impact like Virat Kohli does.

Kohli also has a chance to better his own record in English conditions and he would leave no stone unturned to help India win a series in England.