India is set to play a five-match Test series against England, with the first Test starting on August 4. India and England will also kickstart their new cycle of the World Test Championship inaugural series, and the team that wins the series will take the majority of the points. There have been intense battles between bat and ball whenever India and England have locked horns in a Test series.
Getting into the groove for the 1⃣st #ENGvIND Test be like 👌 💪#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/giBp5nk09s
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 2, 2021
Cricwizz takes a look at battles within the battle in the England vs India Test series.
Kohli vs Anderson
When Kohli toured England in 2014, he became the bunny of James Anderson and managed just 134 in 10 innings at an average of 13.4. Anderson dismissed Kohli 4 times in those 10 innings, but since then Anderson has failed to dismiss Kohli even once despite both of them playing each other in three subsequent series.
However, just like how wine tastes better with time, Anderson has become a far better bowler as he has aged up and crossed 1000 first-class wickets. So, when Kohli and Anderson face each other from July 4, both will look to outdo each other. Kohli would love to keep his wicket intact against Anderson, while the England veteran would look to break his barren wicket jinx of Kohli’s since 2014.
Kohli vs Anderson in Tests
| Series | Runs | Outs | Average |
| 2012 Test series | 23 | 1 | 23 |
| 2014 Test series | 19 | 4 | 4.8 |
| 2016 Test series | 69 | 0 | - |
| 2018 Test series | 114 | 0 | - |
| 2021 Test series | 11 | 0 | - |
| Total | 236 | 5 | 47.2 |
Joe Root vs Ravindra Jadeja
Joe Root has been quite outstanding against Indian bowlers, be it fast or spin bowling. But he seems to struggle against the left-arm orthodox bowler Ravindra Jadeja, who has the most scalps of the England captain among the Indian bowlers in the current squad for the Test series. Jadeja has dismissed Root five times, with two of them coming in the Test series in England in 2014. Hence, on England's conditions, Jadeja could be the best bet against Root who would look to preserve his wicket against his old Indian nemesis.
Root vs Jadeja in Test series
| Series | Runs | Outs | Average |
| 2012 Test series | 10 | 0 | - |
| 2014 Test series | 83 | 2 | 41.5 |
| 2016 Test series | 151 | 3 | 50.3 |
| 2018 Test series | 60 | 0 | - |
| Total | 304 | 5 | 60.8 |
Ajinkya Rahane vs Stuart Broad
Rahane is the next best batsman for India after Virat Kohli in an overseas tour. And hence, overseas bowlers go all out to take the prize wicket of Rahane. With Anderson targeting Kohli’s wicket, it’s Stuart Broad’s responsibility to dismiss Rahane and give no chance of an Indian comeback. Broad has dismissed Rahane 6 times in 4 Test series at an average of just 16.5. It will be interesting to watch who will win this battle between Rahane and Broad.
Rahane vs Broad in Test series
| Series | Runs | Outs | Average |
| 2014 Test series | 41 | 3 | 13.7 |
| 2016 Test series | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| 2018 Test series | 46 | 2 | 23 |
| 2021 Test series | 7 | 0 | - |
| Total | 99 | 6 | 16.5 |
Cover Credits: BCCIofficial
