The Indian cricket teams have always found it tough touring <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/india-tour-of-ireland-and-england-t20i-series-approaching-milestones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>England</strong></a>. Even the best of the squads found very little success in England. The conditions out there are completely alien and tough to acclimatise to. The last two tours to England were major embarrassments where the Indian team was clean swept 4-0 in the Test series in 2011. The performance was slightly better although not satisfactory in 2014. They lost that Test series 3-1.

It has been four long years since the Indian cricket team has last toured England. Since it has been such a long interval, it would be tough for the players to remember the conditions. They will have to get quite a lot of things right if the team is to extract better results this time around.

However, the biggest positive for the Indian team is that they have got a much more balanced side. None of the squads before had so much balance with good bowlers and all-rounders in the ranks. This is a great chance to set the records straight in England. To do so, here are the keys to victory for India that will be important in helping them win.

1. Virat Kohli&#8217;s performance in the English conditions

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-209825" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-5.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-209825" class="wp-caption-text">Captain Virat Kohli of India. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-ind-virat-kohli-warns-eoin-morgans-men-ahead-of-odi-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virat Kohli</strong></a> over the last few years has been the backbone of the Indian cricket team. He has carried the responsibilities of the side on his shoulders and helped the team bag many memorable wins. Further, he has scored runs all around the world irrespective of the conditions being the in the batsmen&#8217;s favour or the bowler&#8217;s favour. He has battled against the odds when the team found itself in tough situations. Moreover, he is the leading run scorer for India since 2016 across formats.

Also, he has inspired the team with his fitness levels and captaincy tactics. However, one place where he struggled with the bat terribly is England. He record in the country is pathetic and he will definitely want to improve upon that. In 10 Test innings in 2014, Virat has only managed to score 134 runs at an average of 13.40. However, he is a completely different player now who is a lot more matured and he will play an important role in this series.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-228041" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Indian-team-1.jpg" alt="Indian team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-228041" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The No 4 position in ODIs in another problem India will have to sort out soon going into the World Cup next year. The Indian cricket team management will have to zero down upon the options available in this series itself. There were quite a few players tested out for this position. However, no one was able to maintain the consistency which is a big matter of concern. Ajinkya Rahane who played in that slot in the South Africa series isn&#8217;t a part of the squad this time around.

For the England series, as many as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/kl-rahul-makes-a-stylish-appearance-at-mayank-agarwals-wedding/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>KL Rahul</strong></a>, Shreyas Iyer, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni are competing for this position. It would be a very interesting call to see who would grab the position given its importance. KL Rahul is currently ahead in the race as he was terrific in the IPL. On the other hand, MS Dhoni also prefers batting up the order now. Hence, the management will have to sort this headache out soon.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-173613" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-6.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar Indian team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-173613" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India has had some serious bowling problems in the last two tours to England. After losing Zaheer Khan in the First Test of the 2011 series, none of the Indian bowlers managed to make an impact. Zaheer was in great form back then and his presence could have made a difference. It was no different except for some heroics from Ishant Sharma in the Lords Test in 2014. The spinners hardly made any impact back then.

However, this bowling lineup is much more experienced now and has shown a lot more maturity in alien conditions in the recent times. The pace battery at the moment for India is very good which is a great encouragement. Also, with wrist spinners available in the side, they could extract some turn on the tough English pitches and make an impact this time around.

4. Countering the aggressive approach of England

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-262304" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ian-Bell.jpg" alt="Ian Bell" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-262304" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina of India has a chat as Ian Bell of England is welcomed back on to the field of play after being controversially run out. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Ever since the loss in the World Cup 2015, England has completely revamped things up. They do not play the brand of cricket they used to play earlier and are a lot more aggressive with their approach now. They are brutal in the limited overs formats and this was very much evident in the series against <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-aus-5th-odi-preview-clean-sweep-cards-australia-england-look-continue-domination/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> which concluded recently where they clean swept the visitors.

They will take the same approach against India as well. The Indian team also shows some great aggression on the field and it will be a treat to watch these two sides battle against each other. The Indian bowlers are required to adapt to the conditions quickly if they are to restrict the English batsmen.

5. Learning from the previous experiences

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-261425" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/India-vs-England-Lords-Test-2014.jpg" alt="India vs England Lord's Test 2014" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-261425" class="wp-caption-text">India vs England Lord&#8217;s Test 2014. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption>

In the 2014 series, it didn&#8217;t seem as if the players learnt from their mistakes in 2011. The bowlers, as well as the batsmen, committed somewhat similar mistakes. The batsmen kept poking at the deliveries that were bowled wide of off-stump getting those edges. Most of them failed to read the delivery of the bowlers&#8217; hand and needed to be more patient. The bowlers kept bowling the subcontinent lines and lengths and failed to extract as much as swing as the England bowlers did.

Hence, it is very important to correct these mistakes and perform according to the conditions. Some of the players from this side have toured England at least twice for a Test series. It is important for these players to pass on the messages about the conditions and style of play to the youngsters and players who are going to England for the first time. Experience of players like MS Dhoni, Ishant Sharma will help quite a bit.

Indian players gather for the practice session

<p>The Indian cricket teams have always found it tough touring <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/india-tour-of-ireland-and-england-t20i-series-approaching-milestones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>England</strong></a>. Even the best of the squads found very little success in England. The conditions out there are completely alien and tough to acclimatise to. The last two tours to England were major embarrassments where the Indian team was clean swept 4-0 in the Test series in 2011. The performance was slightly better although not satisfactory in 2014. They lost that Test series 3-1.</p>
<p>It has been four long years since the Indian cricket team has last toured England. Since it has been such a long interval, it would be tough for the players to remember the conditions. They will have to get quite a lot of things right if the team is to extract better results&nbsp;this time around.</p>
<p>However, the biggest positive for the Indian team is that they have got a much&nbsp;more balanced side. None of the squads before had so much balance with good bowlers and all-rounders in the ranks. This is a great chance to set the records straight in England. To do so, here are the keys to victory for India that will be important in helping them win.</p>
<h3>1. Virat Kohli’s performance in the English conditions</h3>
<figure id="attachment_209825" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-209825" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-209825" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-5.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-209825" class="wp-caption-text">Captain Virat Kohli of India. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-ind-virat-kohli-warns-eoin-morgans-men-ahead-of-odi-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virat Kohli</strong></a> over the last few years has been the backbone of the Indian cricket team. He has carried the responsibilities of the side on his shoulders and helped the team bag many memorable wins. Further, he has scored runs all around the world irrespective of the conditions being the in the batsmen’s favour or the bowler’s favour. He has battled against the odds when the team found itself in tough situations. Moreover, he is the leading run scorer for India since 2016 across formats.</p>
<p>Also, he has inspired the team with his fitness levels and captaincy tactics. However, one place where he struggled with the bat terribly is England. He record in the country is pathetic and he will definitely want to improve upon that. In 10 Test innings in 2014, Virat has only managed to score 134 runs at an average of 13.40. However, he is a completely different player now who is a lot more matured and he will play an important role in this series.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>2. No 4 troubles in ODIs</h3>
<figure id="attachment_228041" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-228041" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-228041" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Indian-team-1.jpg" alt="Indian team" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-228041" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The No 4 position in ODIs in another problem India will have to sort out soon going into the World Cup next year. The Indian cricket team management will have to zero down upon the options available in this series itself. There were quite a few players tested out for this position. However, no one was able to maintain the consistency which is a big matter of concern. Ajinkya Rahane who played in that slot in the South Africa series isn’t a part of the squad this time around.</p>
<p>For the England series, as many as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/kl-rahul-makes-a-stylish-appearance-at-mayank-agarwals-wedding/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>KL Rahul</strong></a>, Shreyas Iyer, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni are competing for this position. It would be a very interesting call to see who would grab the position given its importance. KL Rahul is currently ahead in the race as he was terrific in the IPL. On the other hand, MS Dhoni also prefers batting up the order now. Hence, the management will have to sort this headache out soon.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>3. Bowlers need to get their act right</h3>
<figure id="attachment_173613" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-173613" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-173613" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-6.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar Indian team" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-173613" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India has had some serious bowling problems in the last two tours to England. After losing Zaheer Khan in the First Test of the 2011 series, none of the Indian bowlers managed to make an impact. Zaheer was in great form back then and his presence could have made a difference. It was no different except for some heroics from Ishant Sharma in the Lords Test in 2014. The spinners hardly made any impact back then.</p>
<p>However, this bowling lineup is much more experienced now and has shown a lot more maturity in alien conditions in the recent times. The pace battery at the moment for India is very good which is a great encouragement. Also, with wrist spinners available in the side, they could extract some turn on the tough English pitches and make an impact this time around.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>4. Countering the aggressive approach of England</h3>
<figure id="attachment_262304" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-262304" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-262304" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ian-Bell.jpg" alt="Ian Bell" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-262304" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina of India has a chat as Ian Bell of England is welcomed back on to the field of play after being controversially run out. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Ever since the loss in the World Cup 2015, England has completely revamped things up. They do not play the brand of cricket they used to play earlier and are a lot more aggressive with their approach now. They are brutal in the limited overs formats and this was very much evident in the series against <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-aus-5th-odi-preview-clean-sweep-cards-australia-england-look-continue-domination/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> which concluded recently where they clean swept the visitors.</p>
<p>They will take the same approach against India as well. The Indian team also shows some great aggression on the field and it will be a treat to watch these two sides battle against each other. The Indian bowlers are required to adapt to the conditions quickly if they are to restrict the English batsmen.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>5. Learning from the previous experiences</h3>
<figure id="attachment_261425" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-261425" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-261425" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/India-vs-England-Lords-Test-2014.jpg" alt="India vs England Lord's Test 2014" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-261425" class="wp-caption-text">India vs England Lord’s Test 2014. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>In the 2014 series, it didn’t seem as if the players learnt from their mistakes in 2011. The bowlers, as well as the batsmen, committed somewhat similar mistakes. The batsmen kept poking at the deliveries that were bowled wide of off-stump getting those edges. Most of them failed to read the delivery of the bowlers’ hand and needed to be more patient. The bowlers kept bowling the subcontinent lines and lengths and failed to extract as much as swing as the England bowlers did.</p>
<p>Hence, it is very important to correct these mistakes and perform according to the conditions. Some of the players from this side have toured England at least twice for a Test series. It is important for these players to pass on the messages about the conditions and style of play to the youngsters and players who are going to England for the first time. Experience of players like MS Dhoni, Ishant Sharma will help quite a bit.</p>

<p>The Indian cricket teams have always found it tough touring <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/india-tour-of-ireland-and-england-t20i-series-approaching-milestones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>England</strong></a>. Even the best of the squads found very little success in England. The conditions out there are completely alien and tough to acclimatise to. The last two tours to England were major embarrassments where the Indian team was clean swept 4-0 in the Test series in 2011. The performance was slightly better although not satisfactory in 2014. They lost that Test series 3-1.</p>
<p>It has been four long years since the Indian cricket team has last toured England. Since it has been such a long interval, it would be tough for the players to remember the conditions. They will have to get quite a lot of things right if the team is to extract better results this time around.</p>
<p>However, the biggest positive for the Indian team is that they have got a much more balanced side. None of the squads before had so much balance with good bowlers and all-rounders in the ranks. This is a great chance to set the records straight in England. To do so, here are the keys to victory for India that will be important in helping them win.</p>
<h3>1. Virat Kohli&#8217;s performance in the English conditions</h3>
<figure id="attachment_209825" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-209825" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-209825" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-5.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-209825" class="wp-caption-text">Captain Virat Kohli of India. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-ind-virat-kohli-warns-eoin-morgans-men-ahead-of-odi-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virat Kohli</strong></a> over the last few years has been the backbone of the Indian cricket team. He has carried the responsibilities of the side on his shoulders and helped the team bag many memorable wins. Further, he has scored runs all around the world irrespective of the conditions being the in the batsmen&#8217;s favour or the bowler&#8217;s favour. He has battled against the odds when the team found itself in tough situations. Moreover, he is the leading run scorer for India since 2016 across formats.</p>
<p>Also, he has inspired the team with his fitness levels and captaincy tactics. However, one place where he struggled with the bat terribly is England. He record in the country is pathetic and he will definitely want to improve upon that. In 10 Test innings in 2014, Virat has only managed to score 134 runs at an average of 13.40. However, he is a completely different player now who is a lot more matured and he will play an important role in this series.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>2. No 4 troubles in ODIs</h3>
<figure id="attachment_228041" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-228041" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-228041" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Indian-team-1.jpg" alt="Indian team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-228041" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The No 4 position in ODIs in another problem India will have to sort out soon going into the World Cup next year. The Indian cricket team management will have to zero down upon the options available in this series itself. There were quite a few players tested out for this position. However, no one was able to maintain the consistency which is a big matter of concern. Ajinkya Rahane who played in that slot in the South Africa series isn&#8217;t a part of the squad this time around.</p>
<p>For the England series, as many as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/kl-rahul-makes-a-stylish-appearance-at-mayank-agarwals-wedding/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>KL Rahul</strong></a>, Shreyas Iyer, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni are competing for this position. It would be a very interesting call to see who would grab the position given its importance. KL Rahul is currently ahead in the race as he was terrific in the IPL. On the other hand, MS Dhoni also prefers batting up the order now. Hence, the management will have to sort this headache out soon.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>3. Bowlers need to get their act right</h3>
<figure id="attachment_173613" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-173613" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-173613" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-6.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar Indian team" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-173613" class="wp-caption-text">Indian team. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>India has had some serious bowling problems in the last two tours to England. After losing Zaheer Khan in the First Test of the 2011 series, none of the Indian bowlers managed to make an impact. Zaheer was in great form back then and his presence could have made a difference. It was no different except for some heroics from Ishant Sharma in the Lords Test in 2014. The spinners hardly made any impact back then.</p>
<p>However, this bowling lineup is much more experienced now and has shown a lot more maturity in alien conditions in the recent times. The pace battery at the moment for India is very good which is a great encouragement. Also, with wrist spinners available in the side, they could extract some turn on the tough English pitches and make an impact this time around.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>4. Countering the aggressive approach of England</h3>
<figure id="attachment_262304" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-262304" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-262304" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ian-Bell.jpg" alt="Ian Bell" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-262304" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina of India has a chat as Ian Bell of England is welcomed back on to the field of play after being controversially run out. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Ever since the loss in the World Cup 2015, England has completely revamped things up. They do not play the brand of cricket they used to play earlier and are a lot more aggressive with their approach now. They are brutal in the limited overs formats and this was very much evident in the series against <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/eng-vs-aus-5th-odi-preview-clean-sweep-cards-australia-england-look-continue-domination/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> which concluded recently where they clean swept the visitors.</p>
<p>They will take the same approach against India as well. The Indian team also shows some great aggression on the field and it will be a treat to watch these two sides battle against each other. The Indian bowlers are required to adapt to the conditions quickly if they are to restrict the English batsmen.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>5. Learning from the previous experiences</h3>
<figure id="attachment_261425" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-261425" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-261425" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/India-vs-England-Lords-Test-2014.jpg" alt="India vs England Lord's Test 2014" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-261425" class="wp-caption-text">India vs England Lord&#8217;s Test 2014. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>In the 2014 series, it didn&#8217;t seem as if the players learnt from their mistakes in 2011. The bowlers, as well as the batsmen, committed somewhat similar mistakes. The batsmen kept poking at the deliveries that were bowled wide of off-stump getting those edges. Most of them failed to read the delivery of the bowlers&#8217; hand and needed to be more patient. The bowlers kept bowling the subcontinent lines and lengths and failed to extract as much as swing as the England bowlers did.</p>
<p>Hence, it is very important to correct these mistakes and perform according to the conditions. Some of the players from this side have toured England at least twice for a Test series. It is important for these players to pass on the messages about the conditions and style of play to the youngsters and players who are going to England for the first time. Experience of players like MS Dhoni, Ishant Sharma will help quite a bit.</p>

The Indians have their task cut out prior to the start of the England tour.

ENG v IND, 2018: Keys to victory for India

Here are the keys to victory for India in the tough, gruelling England tour where they will play 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is and 5 Tests.