IND vs ENG: Test series – 5 Indians to watch out for

India and England are about to script another glorious chapter of their 92-year-long cricket history as they will take on each other in a five-match Test series beginning from January 25 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Notably, India have an upper hand over England on their home soil, having won 22 out of the 64 matches played in India.

However, England have won five series in India out of 16 while India have emerged victorious on eight occasions. The upcoming series will once again prove to be an enthralling affair with star-studded lineups on both sides. On that note, let’s take a look at the five Indian players to watch out for in the Test series:

1) Ravichandran Ashwin

The off-spinner is ranked among the greatest spinners of the modern era having 490 wickets to his name from 95 Tests. Ashwin has scalped 88 wickets against England from 35 innings at an average of 28.59 and an economy of 2.77 with six five-wicket hauls to his name. The 37-year-old is a different beast in India and will be a cause of worry for England in the upcoming series.

2) Axar Patel

The spin all-rounder has become an integral part of the Test team over the past few years having made a strong impact with both bat and ball. Patel played a pivotal role in India’s last home series against Australia where he finished as the second-highest run scorer for his team with 264 runs to his name and also scalped three wickets. The southpaw will be expected to play a similar role this time around as well.

3) Rohit Sharma

The Indian captain has made a sensational turnaround in his career ever since he began opening the innings in Tests. Rohit loves to bat on the turning tracks of India and has 2002 runs to his name from 36 innings at an average of 66.73 with eight hundreds and six fifties to his name. The opening batter will once again have the onus of getting his team off to a great start in the upcoming series.

4) Jasprit Bumrah

In the absence of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah will have the onus of providing crucial breakthroughs for the team both with the new and old ball.

The right-arm speedster has played just four Tests in India and picked 14 wickets at an average of 15.64 with one fifer to his name. The 30-year-old will have the responsibility to not release the pressure built by the spinners and make some early inroads with the new ball.

5) Virat Kohli

The last time England were in India, Kohli was through the worst phase of his career and could only score 172 runs from six innings at an average of 28.66 with two fifties to his name. However, this time around the batter it most likely won’t be the same case as the star batter has found his mojo back having recently won the Player of the Tournament in the ODI World Cup for finishing as the leading run score. Kohli will be eager to replicate his sensational form from 2016 against England where he amassed 655 runs from eight innings at an average of 109.16 with two hundreds and two fifties to his name.