England vs India: Virat Kohli out to conquer past hoodoo

England takes on India in the first of five-match Test series in Edgbaston on Wednesday, from 1530 hrs (IST). India is currently the number one Test side in the world and by quite some margin. Even if the visitors happen to face a whitewash from the hosts, Virat Kohli’s side will still enjoy the top spot in the ladder.

The 2014 Test series is afresh in minds of the Indians with a humiliating 3-1 defeat in the five-match Test series under former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Though the veteran said goodbye to the longer version of the game, Virat Kohli takes pride in taking his compatriot’s legacy forward in his absence. They got their revenge after defeating England 4-0 on home soil but the feeling of winning just one match in the last 10 matches played in England will surely hamper the team’s mindset going into the much-awaited Test series.

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England, on the other hand, has had their headaches at times but being slow starters on numerous occasions they have shown visiting teams how well they can play in home conditions. Despite Ajinkya Rahane quoting the fact that the heatwave has made conditions more like Mumbai and Chennai, England will be confident having a good set of fast bowlers.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli states that the most difficult phase of his cricketing career came in England when India lost 3-1 to England, with the Delhi boy managing to score just 134 runs in five-match Test series. James Anderson dismissed him four times in the series and will look to do the same against Kohli when he walks to the crease.

Kohli will have his headaches with team selection as Shikhar Dhawan failed miserably in the practice Test match against Essex. Whereas the ever so reliable Cheteshwar Pujara had a difficult time in nets. But there being no replacement for the textbook player that he is, he will take up the crucial number three spot. Dinesh Karthik will have a point to prove after being picked in the team following a long break.

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England has announced their playing XI on the eve of the match. No place for Moeen Ali in the squad as England look to add an extra all-rounder to the squad in the form of Sam Curran.

Meanwhile, Adil Rashid, the leg-spinner who was amidst a lot of talks after being picked will feature in the first Test match that begins tomorrow.

England (Final XI): Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Stuart Broad, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, James Anderson.

India (Possible XI): KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Ravichandran Ashwin, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.