After emerging victorious in the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, India just have a week’s gap before they host England for a five-match Test series starting January 25. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Company will get just two days off as they join the training camp in Hyderabad from January 20. Head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed the same saying that the team will begin their preparations from Saturday.
India completed a 3-0 series sweep over Afghanistan after emerging victorious by 10 runs in the Super Over of the third and final T20I in Bengaluru. The hosts had won the first two encounters by 6 wickets in Mohali and Indore. Apart from the players, the coaching staff including head coach Dravid are also on a two-day break and will reach Hyderabad on Saturday. India have not lost a Test series at home since 2012-2013.
India will play a 5-Test series at home for the first time since England’s visit to India in 2018. Their 5-Test series in England in 2021 saw an interruption as the 5th Test was rescheduled due to Covid-19 pandemic and later played in 2022. Skipper Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli, youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan will need to swiftly change their gears from the shortest format to the longest format.
Coach Dravid has said that the five match Test series which begins in January and will run till March means a lot of cricket. It has been quite a lot of time since India last played five Test matches in a row so this is going to take a toll on their physical health. Praising England, the head coach said that they are a tough side to play and it will be interesting to lock horns with England in the red-ball format.
