RE:VIEW
Ahead of England’s five-match Test series in India, we asked three writers for their predictions
JON HOTTEN
YAS RANA
Wisden.com head of content
England’s unbeaten run under Stokes’ captaincy is almost certain to end. India’s home record is astounding having lost just three Tests, let alone series, on home soil over the last 11 years. India prevailed against England on a series of spin-friendly pitches in 2021 but conditions may well differ this time around and it is on flatter surfaces that England’s frailties will be heightened. England travel with a startlingly inexperienced group of spinners – much will be expected of Jack Leach, who last played more than seven months ago – and without any of the all-round options that gave them flexibility in Pakistan last winter. India are not flawless, and the visitors will be buoyed by the success had by Australia’s uncapped spinners last year. In the end, India’s series win was only sealed by a placid pitch in the series finale that nullified any chance of a result. I expect England to be annoying opponents, dramatically shifting games over the course of a session and nicking at least one Test. I’m going 3-1 India with Ravichandran Ashwin once more causing havoc and Virat Kohli, who was quietly sublime in the recent South Africa series, to return to somewhere near his best in home conditions.