On Friday (5th February), the first Test of the four-match Test series will begin between the hosts India and the visitors England. They will play this opening game of the Test series at MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk, Chennai).
This Test series will be a part of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship. The result of this Test series will determine who will play the final of this Test Championship against New Zealand at Lord’s in June 2021. Apart from favourite India and England, Australia are also in the fight to reach the final of this tournament.
The Telegraph reported that the England squad will fly to Chennai on Wednesday for the first two Tests of the four-match series and will undergo a strict quarantine on arrival.Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Rory Burns, who were not part of the Sri Lanka series, arrived in India on Sunday night and will get five days to train following their hotel quarantine. It will be first international series to be held in India amid the pandemic. A smooth conduct of the series is important for the BCCI which is aiming to have the IPL also at home after staging the 2020 edition in the UAE
The last two Tests will be played in Ahmedabad from 24 February. The series, to be played in a bio-bubble, is also crucial in the context of the World Test Championship. India are on top of the points table after their memorable series win in Australia.
India Squad (First two Tests ):
Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-captain), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur.
England squad (First two Tests):
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Dom Sibley, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, James Anderson.
Scorecard : India vs England Highlights, 1st Test, Day 3: Washington Sundar, R Ashwin take India to 257/6 at stumps, with the hosts trailing by 321 runs. Dom Bess got the big wickets of Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara. Follow score and updates of IND vs ENG.
Just when India were recovering and getting back into the game with that partnership, Pujara fell in the most unluckiest of ways. He pulled a Bess long hop and the ball deflected off short leg to mid-wicket. Pant continued with his thrill-a-minute batting and succumbed to it once he entered the 90s. Since then the two local boys have come together and seen India through to stumps. But they are still a long way away from safety and they will know that. The second new ball is available in six overs and England will hope that helps them wrap up the innings. Can India show more fight tomorrow? Or will it be another day of England bossing?
