“India vs England: Test Series 2024 – A Comprehensive Preview”

India vs England – As cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the clash between India and England in the upcoming five-match Test series scheduled from January 25 to March 11, all eyes are on the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team. The hosts, starting as favorites, will kick off the series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, followed by matches in Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala.

In a surprising move, England has chosen to omit veteran pace bowler James Anderson for the first Test and has opted for a spin-heavy lineup, featuring Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, and Jack Leach. The debutant left-arm spinner, Hartley, will be one to watch in Hyderabad, with Mark Wood being the sole frontline pacer in the England XI.

Team India, mirroring their opponents, is likely to field three spinners, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin as certainties. The choice for the third slow-bowling option is expected to be between Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. The absence of Virat Kohli, who withdrew for personal reasons, puts additional responsibility on the other batsmen to step up.

As the two cricketing giants prepare to renew their red-ball rivalry, let’s delve into some key statistics that define their historical contests.

India vs England Head-to-Head Record:

India and England have faced off 131 times in Test matches, with England leading 50-31 and 50 matches ending in a draw. In India, the hosts have won 22 out of 64 matches, while England has emerged victorious in 14 games.

Highest and Lowest Totals:

India’s highest team total in India vs England Tests is 759/7d in Chennai (December 2016), while their lowest is a meager 42 at Lord’s (1974). Notably, India holds the records for the three lowest scores in this rivalry: 58 (1952), 78 (2021), and 42 (1974). England’s lowest total against India is 81 in Ahmedabad (2021).

Largest and Smallest Margin of Victories:

The largest victory margin belongs to England with an innings and 285 runs at Lord’s (1974), while India’s smallest margin is a 28-run win at Eden Gardens (1972). In terms of the smallest margin of victory by wickets, India has achieved four-wicket wins over England at The Oval (1971) and Chennai (1973).

Highest Individual Score:

Graham Gooch’s monumental 333 at Lord’s in 1990 remains the highest individual score in India vs England Tests. Karun Nair’s 303* in Chennai (December 2016) is the highest for India, while Alastair Cook narrowly missed a triple hundred, scoring 294 in Birmingham (2011).

Records for Centuries and Series Runs:

Joe Root leads the chart for most hundreds in India-England Tests, boasting nine in 25 matches. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Alastair Cook share the second spot with seven tons each. Graham Gooch holds the record for the most runs in a series, accumulating 752 runs in six innings during England’s tour of India in 1990. Root (737 runs, 2021-22) and Virat Kohli (655 runs, 2016-17) also feature prominently in this list.

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As the stage is set for another riveting Test series, cricket fans brace themselves for a spectacle filled with intense competition and historic performances.