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India are poised to take on England in a gripping five-match Test series at home, with the inaugural game scheduled at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on January 25. The English team, led by Ben Stokes, is eager to break their year-long Test series victory drought on Indian soil. However, the formidable challenge awaits them against the Rohit Sharma-led Indian side, renowned for their dominance at home, having not lost a series since 2012.
Rohit Sharma’s batting fortress: A formidable challenge for England
Rohit, in addition to his masterful captaincy, poses a significant batting threat that makes it daunting for opposition bowlers to dent the Indian team’s strong start. Rohit’s prowess are particularly pronounced against England, amassing 747 runs in nine Tests at an impressive average of 49.80, featuring two centuries and three fifties. His stellar record in Indian conditions is equally remarkable, with 2,002 runs in 24 Tests at an average of 66.73, adorned with eight centuries and six half-centuries.
Also READ: Top 5 best bowling performances in India vs England Test series history
Mark Wood discloses tactics to counter Rohit Sharma
In a pre-match press conference ahead of the first Test in Hyderabad, England’s fast bowler Mark Wood acknowledged the challenge of facing Rohit. Wood emphasized the need for precision in delivering bouncers against Rohit, noting that the short ball is seldom employed in Indian conditions.
“Yeah, the conditions will be assessed once I am out there, and bouncers are rarely bought out here. Someone like Rohit, I know how good he is on the short ball. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I wouldn’t bowl a bouncer. It just means that I’ll have to be really accurate with it and bowl at the right time,” Wood said.
England’s confidence boost
Despite the tough task at hand, Wood believed that the English team, buoyed by their 3-0 victory against Pakistan in the subcontinent in 2022, has nothing to lose and can approach the series with confidence.
“They (India) very rarely lose at home. I think it’s almost like a bit of a free hit for us where we can come in and try something different. We created history in Pakistan recently, becoming the first team to win every match. So, this is another chance to do something historic and try and beat India in their own conditions,” the 34-year-old concluded.
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