India and England will face each other in a Test series on Indian soil for the 15th time starting with the first Test at Rajkot on the 9th of November. Both the teams first met on Indian soil in December 1933 in a 3 Test series in which England won 2 Tests and 1 was drawn. The last Test series on Indian soil began in November 2012 in which England triumphed 2-1. Overall, out of the 14 Test series played between the 2 teams on Indian soil, India have won 6, England have won 5 while 3 have been drawn. Overall in India, the teams have played 55 Tests with India winning 15, England winning 13 and the remaining 27 were drawn. Along with West Indies, England have won the most Test series by a visiting team in India.

As far as the recent form of the teams is concerned, India blanked New Zealand 3-0 in a 3 Test series at home while England drew a 2 Test series against Bangladesh away from home 1-1. The wickets for the Test series are expected to take turn and the spinners for the hosts are in good form. The spinners for England are relatively inexperienced compared to the Indian spinners. However, England will be heartened by the fact that Moen Ali took 19 wickets in the last series between the two teams in England at a paltry bowling average of just 23. He was in good form in the recently concluded series in Bangladesh taking 11 wickets at a bowling average of 22.9

England will be buoyed by the fact that James Anderson is likely to be fit for the second Test as he had played a crucial role in the last series 4 days ago. The fate of the series will be decided by the ability of the spinners on both sides and also by how the batsmen of both sides play the turning ball. There is no question that India start as firm favourites in spite of having lost the last 3 Test series between the two teams.

If India get off to a good start then it could be an uphill battle for England, but they have enough pedigree in their ranks to give the hosts a tough fight.

Here are some stats highlights between the two teams in Tests on Indian soil.

Sunil Gavaskar has played the most Tests for India with 22 while Derek Underwood has played the most for England with 16.

Gavaskar has scored the most aggregate runs for India with 1331 to his name while Alastair Cook has scored the most for England with 866.

Vinod Kambli has scored the highest individual score for India when he scored 224 In Mumbai in February 1993. Mike Gatting has the highest individual score for England when he scored 207 at Chennai in January 1985.

Mohammad Azharuddin has scored the most centuries for India with 4 while Alastair Cook has also scored 4 centuries for England.

Bhagwat Chandrasekhar has taken the most aggregate wickets for India with 64 while Derek Underwood has taken the most for England with 54.

The best bowling figures in an innings for India is 8/55 by Vinoo Mankad at Chennai in February 1952 while the best for England is 7/46 by Joh Lever at Delhi in December 1976.
India’s highest score is 591 at Mumbai in February 1993 while England’s highest score is 652/7 at Chennai in January 1985.