Dilip Vengsarkar believes this is Team India's best chance to win the Test series in England

For the first time in a really long time, an Indian team that has landed in England also has the tag of favourites. Virat Kohli’s team is slated to play three T20Is, as many ODIs and end the tour with a five-match Test series. They lost the Test series 3-1 to England last time round in 2014 under MS Dhoni and Virat who flew in as the most prominent batsman was the biggest letdown.

However, the right-hander has worked on his batting and has a really balanced side at his disposal. Team India is the No.1 ranked side in this format of the game. That coupled with the fact that this summer in England is the hottest and the pitches have got really dry around the country. All this will work in favour of the visitors and thus former captain Dilip Vengsarkar also feels that the Indians have the best chance to win a Test series this time.

“Kohli would have worked on the factors that made him fail during the 2014 tour because he takes pride in his performance. He should spend more time in the middle. Not only Kohli, but all other batsmen too should adapt to conditions quickly,” Vengsarkar was quoted as saying by Gulf News.

Spend time

The Colonel himself has a rich record while playing in that part of the world and he thinks against the moving ball it is important for the batsmen to concentrate really hard. He also emphasized on the need to spend as much time in the middle as possible as the key to success.

“In England, the ball moves most of the time. So you have to concentrate very hard. It is important to spend time in the middle,” he added.

Vengsarkar also feels that the Indian wrist-spin twin Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will trouble the English batsmen as they don’t pick the ball off the hand and have traditionally struggled against spin.

“England batsmen are susceptible to spin bowling, especially wrist spinners. The history of English cricket reveals it,” he added.

Ageing pacers

Pressing further on his point on how this is the best chance for India, he added that the English bowlers who have always troubled the batsmen are ageing and not at their prime anymore.

“Moreover, England is an ageing team – their pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad are ageing as well and hence their young guys will have to do well. This is the best chance to beat them because we are playing five Test matches. If India can do well in the One day series before the Tests that can give them the momentum,” the former Indian selector stated.

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