Sitting on top of the ODI and T20 rankings, not to mention second position in Test matches, India are a formidable opponent for any team in the world. England travel there at the turn of the year to embark on an eight-match tour, five T20 games and a three-part ODI series.
The contest is a fascinating one, given that England have quality players but have experienced mixed recent results. Fans will tune in hoping to see a keenly fought contest with both sides having the dangerous attackers who can entertain.
Read on to find out more about the key players, the venues, and which way the series is likely to fall.
The players
England will have Bryson Carse in fine form following his excellent performance in his Test debut against Pakistan in October, where he bagged nine wickets in the two Tests.
The South African-born ace was banned for three months by the Cricket Regulator for historic gambling offences that contravened strict cricket betting rules. These regulations state that professionals cannot bet on cricket anywhere in the world.
Players are even discouraged from using any gambling-related devices by their clubs, like no deposit bonuses and free bets, in a bid to ward them away from problem betting. If Carse can recapture his previous Test form, however then he’s sure to be a thorn in India’s side.
India, meanwhile, have an in-form Virat Kohli in their ranks. After a relatively subdued home Test series against New Zealand, Kohli silenced his critics with a brilliant century in the first Test against Australia. His knock, which included some trademark strokes and a calm and composed approach, proved that he is still one of the world’s best batsmen.
The century was particularly significant as it came in challenging Australian conditions and against a formidable bowling attack. Kohli’s resurgence has injected much-needed momentum into the Indian team, and his performance will be crucial to India’s chances in the series against England.
Other players to watch include Phil Salt, a standout performer vs West Indies despite their ODI series defeat. Dan Mousley also impressed on his ODI debut with a solid half-century, while Jofra Archer remains a key player for England’s bowling attack, and his return to form will be crucial if they are to win in India. His long injury absence, though, is bound to make this difficult.
India, meanwhile, will rely on their world-class fast bowlers who exploited Australian weaknesses in their recent series and bowled them out for a low score in both innings.
The venues
England kick off their tour of the subcontinent with a five-match T20 series taking in some of the country’s finest cricketing venues.
Eden Gardens in Kolkata, known for its passionate crowd in a cauldron-like atmosphere, is the starting point, followed by MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai; Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot; and Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.
The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, one of India’s most iconic cricket stadiums, will host the finale. Here, its lively atmosphere and its flat, batting-friendly pitch could lead to an entertaining finish to the series.
The three-match ODI series follows, and this will take the teams back to the MCA Stadium, before they travel to the Barabati Stadium, located in Cuttack, Odisha.
To cap the whole tour off, they’ll head to one of the world’s largest cricket stadiums, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This place is a modern marvel, with its massive capacity and electric atmosphere making it a thrilling venue for cricket matches.
The dates
The tour will take place over the first two months of 2025, with the first T20 game scheduled for January 22nd. Then, there’s a three-day break following the final T20 on February 2nd before the first ODI starts on February 6th. The players will wrap up the whole tour February 12th, meaning they’ll have crammed an impressive eight matches into just three weeks.
The weather at that time of year in India is generally pleasant, being mainly dry and sunny but not too hot. The north tends to be milder and cooler than the south of the country, but temperatures shouldn’t be extreme at any point of the tour.
The likely outcome
England will be a tough foe for India, but it’s hard to look past anything other than two convincing series wins for the hosts. The visitors will be looking for a strong start to shake India’s morale, but it would be a shock if they were to win either of the contests.
