[ad_1]
BENGALURU: When India’s fifth test match against England at Old Trafford was canceled last September, India led the series 2-1. They return to end the series with a single test match, but in the ensuing nine months there have been many changes.
India have a new coach in Rahul Dravid, while Rohit Sharma has replaced Virat Kohli as skipper. The home team has also undergone a transformation. Led by a new skipper Ben Stokesthey have just won two Test matches against New Zealand. After sealing the streak, they play the final game starting Thursday before heading to Edgbastonwhere they face India from July 1.
The shape of Stokes and Co. is not lost on Dravideleft for England in the early hours of Monday after the T20 series against South Africa.
“As for the test match, it’s going to be exciting for us. It’s just a one-time test match, but World Trade Center points and streaks are on the line and the guys who played a part in it will mean well and are looking forward to it. England are playing well at the moment and it will be a bit different from last year when England were probably a bit behind.
“They played good games and we also have a very good team. Hopefully we will have a good game,” Dravid stressed.
1/6
In photos – Mission England: the Indian team begins preparations for a rescheduled fifth test
Show captions
Key India Test squad players, including former India captain Virat Kohli, have started training for the rescheduled fifth Test against England, which kicks off on July 1 in Birmingham. (Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)
The team is currently in London and have started preparing for the Test and White-Ball series against England. The rescheduled fifth test will be followed by 3 T20I and 3 ODI. (Photo credit: BCCI Twitter)
The Indian Cricket Board and players have shared photos from their first training session at Lord’s. Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were all not involved in the ongoing series in South Africa. (Photo credit: Cheteshwar Pujara Twitter)
The Indian team will play a few warm-up matches against Leicestershire and Derbyshire ahead of the fifth Test against England. India currently leads the unfinished Test series 2-1. (Photo credit: Virat Kohli Twitter)
Earlier on Thursday, the players left for England after gathering in Mumbai. Skipper Rohit Sharma and those involved in the South African series are set to leave for England in the coming days.
Indian fly-half KL Rahul will miss the England tour as he is expected to fly to Germany for treatment of his groin injury. Earlier, the injury resulted in Rahul’s exclusion from India’s ongoing T20I series against South Africa. (Photo PTI)
Dravid returns to the country where he made his Test debut in 1996 for the first time as a senior team coach. The former Indian skipper said he was looking forward to the contest.
“It’s always nice to play test matches in England. The crowd is going to be fantastic and they’re good when you play test cricket there. I loved playing test cricket (in England). J love coaching Test cricket and I’m looking forward to it,” the 49-year-old said.
[ad_2]
You Can Read Also
World News
