It will be a grudge series between India and England and after India’s 4-0 battering in England last season, the men in blue will be looking for retribution.
As a matter of fact, it was in England that India lost their number one Test ranking and their series whitewash was the worst in the history of Indian cricket.
India were totally outplayed in those conditions and they found it hard to breach the 300 run mark in most of the matches.
But then England after a dominating performance against India saw a slump in their form and even their skipper Andrew Strauss retired.
When India played in England, the conditions were hostile to India and pitches were prepared according to hosts’ strengths. It is expected India would dish out rank turners against England to make things difficult for them. But then by just preparing conditions favorable to India does not make them a favourites.
Playing at home gives India the advantage, but then there are few things that they would require to if they want to exact revenge on Alistair Cook and co.
Here are few things that India will have to do if they want to win the series:
Openers need to deliver: Indian opening combo of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have been going through a rough phase off late and they will need to deliver at the top of the innings if India want to emerge successful in the tournament. They have been getting those starts and hitting odd 30’s and 40’s but are not able to convert those into big scores. It will be off great importance for India in the series and they will have to give the team good starts.
Counter short-deliveries: It is a well-known fact that India players are uncomfortable against short deliveries. It is quite obvious that they will dish rank turners but that will not stop English bowlers from bowling short deliveries to Indian batsmen. They will need to come up with a strategy to counter the bouncers to play English bowlers effectively.
Effective strategy to counter KP: It will be a comeback series for Kevin Pietersen and he has already scored a century in the warm-up game to send out warning to India. Pietersen will be raring to go in this series and his experience in playing in the IPL will help him a lot. India will be depending on spinners a lot and he is someone who plays spin very well. He has won many a matches for England in the past and India will have to devise a plan so that he does not break free.
Zaheer Khan needs to fire: Zaheer Khan has been India apex bowler for many years now, but then there has been a dip in his form for quite some time. He will have to deliver and pick up early wickets for India so that English openers do not get off to a good start.
By Indian Sports News Network