'India will go on to win' - Sunil Gavaskar's bold prediction ahead of England-India series

Cricketer-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar has backed India to perform well in their five-match Test series against England, starting on August 4. The 71-year-old feels with England missing on few players to injury and mental health issues, India can easily win the series. Although team India has a fair share of injuries it has a well-rounded squad in both and batting and bowling departments of the game.

With the addition of Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw, India has enough replacement players as a cover for the main players. Over the past three years, India has performed well, especially abroad and have gone on to register victories in Australia, South Africa, West Indies, and England.

Gavaskar spoke to the Hindu about India’s chances in the five-match Test series against England stating, India will win 4-0. “My prediction is… again this time I am making it contingent to the weather. If the weather in August… I left England about 10 days ago and the weather was absolutely brilliant. It was hot most of the time. I am being told it is raining a little bit. If the hot conditions are there for 22 out of possible 25 days, then I think India will win 4-0.”

India last won a Test series in England in 2007, 1-0, under the leadership of Rahul Dravid. Since then they have gone on tour in this part of the world but have to win a Test series. With England without Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, India has a chance to correct that record by winning the series.

Sunil Gavaskar feels Virat Kohli will have an upper hand over James Anderson

India again has to rely on skipper Virat Kohli to deliver the goods as during the team’s last visit in 2018, the right-hand batter scored over 600 runs. He came back strongly after he failed in 2014 and played James Anderson well. Gavaskar feels this time too Kohli will have an edge over England’s swing king.

“I wish I could predict an accurate answer. But looking at the way Kohli adapted in 2018, looking at the way he was so certain around off-stump, his shot selection was so immaculate, I just think Anderson as a fast bowler getting three-year older and Virat Kohli getting three years more experienced, and I think batsmen are at their peak around this 28-33-34, I do believe that Virat Kohli will come out triumphs like he did in 2018,” Sunil Gavaskar added.