In his latest commentary, Ian Chappell, the former captain of the Australian cricket team, expressed confidence in England’s competitive spirit under Ben Stokes in the ongoing Test series against India. Despite this, he predicts a challenging path for the visitors, with India having the advantage as the home team. Chappell emphasized that while England, led by Joe Root in the past, struggled against spin during their previous tour in 2021, the current aggressive leadership of Stokes presents a formidable challenge to the hosts.
The absence of Virat Kohli from the Indian squad due to injury is notable, but Chappell believes that the return of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja will strengthen the team. However, the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from the remainder of the series has drawn attention. With Iyer’s inconsistent performances in the opening Tests, Chappell suggests a reevaluation of the selectors’ decisions, urging them to recognize the potential of players like Kuldeep Yadav.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming matches, Chappell sees the India-England rivalry evolving into a fiercely contested battle between two skilled sides. The third Test, scheduled to commence in Rajkot on February 15, promises to be a pivotal moment in the series.
