One minute India were strolling to victory, the next they were well and truly ‘Bazballed’ as Stokes ring of confidence spread around the England team. The tourists have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, but India will be eager to bounce back in the second Test that starts in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
India as the Favorite, England as the Value Bet
India start the match as firm favourites so England represent the value at 2/1, in what promises to be a low scoring affair, especially as this time India have to contend with the loss of Jadeja and K.L. Rahul to injury. Virat Kholi will be missing again – a loss not just for his runs but for his intensity and passion on and off the field. You have to go back to 2011 for the last time India entered a home test without both Kohli and Jadeja.
The Pitch: A Spinner’s Haven
The pitch is expected to offer even more assistance to the spinners, as it has done in the past. The last time a Test was played here, in 2016, India beat England by 246 runs, with R. Ashwin taking eight wickets in the match. England will have to cope with the turn, as well as the variable bounce that may come into play as the match progresses. Jasprit Bumrah showed he is still on top of his game and can take wickets on any surface. He is destined to be India’s top wicket taker.
India’s Bench Strength and Key Players
The quality of India’s bench-strength will be tested, with Rajat Patidar next in line to come into the India top order. Opener Yashasvi Jaisal showed enough to be considered top first innings run scorer at 9/2 but it’s surely time for skipper Rohit Sharma to come to the party, as he tends to warm up as a series progresses. The value however may be found with Axar Patel; at 25/1 he is likely to bat in the top six and is a much-improved batsman, capable of following in the footsteps of Ravi Shastri who also started life as a specialist bowler before making his way up the batting order.
England’s Response and Betting Recommendations
The India brains trust, led by experienced coach Rahul Dravid, will surely have worked out a plan to counter England’s reverse-sweeping (the source of 58 of Pope’s 196 runs). Ben Duckett is another fine sweeper of the ball and is taken at 9/2 to be England’s top batter. Jack Leach has been ruled out through injury so Joe Root, England’s most consistent spinner in the first test, will be asked to step up again and can be backed at 100/30 to be England’s top bowler. Jimmy Anderson could be called in to replace Mark Wood and is likely to provide the control that England will be looking for.
Recommendations
- England match winner 2/1
- India top first innings Run Scorer: Axar Patel 25/1
- England top first innings Run Scorer: Ben Duckett 5/1
- India top first innings Wicket Taker: Jasprit Bumrah 7/2
- England top first innings Wicket Taker: Joe Root 100/30