Gautam Gambhir shoots down England’s winning chances in the Test series against India

Ahead of the Test series between India and England, former batsman Gautam Gambhir has written off the visitors’ chances of winning even a single game. The former India opener has opined that he doesn’t see England winning any of the four Tests with the kind of spin attack they have. The much-anticipated Test series is scheduled to get underway on February 5 in Chennai.

While India are the firm favourites for the series, England will be also confident after their dominating display in Sri Lanka last month. The Joe Root-led side thoroughly outplayed the hosts to clean sweep the two-match series. On the spinning tracks, their spinners Dom Bess and Jack Leach managed to make a big impression.

Gambhir, however, believes that it would be tough for England to challenge the hosts with their current spin attack. Speaking on Star Sports show Game Plan, Gambhir said England does not have the spinners in their arsenal who can utilize the conditions in India. He also backed India to win the series by 3-0 or 3-1 if England manages to do well in the pink-ball Test.

“It has to be 3-0 India or probably 3-1. I’m only going to give a Pink Ball Test match, probably 50-50 to England just from the conditions point of view. I don’t see England winning any of the Test matches with the kind of spin attack they’ve got,” Gautam Gambhir said.

Completely different challenge for someone like Joe Root: Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir further said that the upcoming series will be also a challenge for England skipper Joe Root who was in red-hot form in Sri Lanka. The right-handed batsman played a stunning knock of 228 in the first Test before coming up with a 186-run knock in the second Test. Gambhir, however, believes Root will have a challenging time in India when he will face the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin.

“This is going to be a completely different challenge for someone like Joe Root. Yes, he has played really well in Sri Lanka, but when you have to face people like Jasprit Bumrah on any wicket, or for that matter, Ravichandran Ashwin, when his confidence is sky-high after what he has done in Australia, I am sure it is going to be a completely different beast and a completely different ball game,” said Gautam Gambhir.