India vs England 2021: Ravichandran Ashwin Expects Nail-biting Finish Against Strong England Team

Feb 5, 2021 at 3:16 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
India vs England 2021: Ravichandran Ashwin Expects Nail-biting Finish Against Strong England Team

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels that the visitors England could be a tough nut to crack, even in Indian conditions although India begin their four-match Test series against England as favourites, having won against Australia despite several key players not playing due to injuries.

In an interview on BCCI’s official website, Ravichandran Ashwin said that India will not take England lightly, adding that he expects the four-match series to be a closely contested one.

Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin. Credits: BCCI

Ravichandran Ashwin Is Looking Forward To A Cracking Series As Nothing Less Than Nail Biting Cricket Is Expected

India have not lost a bilateral Test series on home soil since England’s 2-1 win in 2012. They head into the series off the back of a stunning comeback win over Australia recently with youngsters rising to the occasion.

Recognizing the prowess of the English team, the 34-year-old said: “Looking forward to a cracking series. England have always been a very tough cookie to crack. Even when we go there (to England) or they come down here (India), they always play good cricket. England and Australia are probably two teams that come very well prepared here. We expect nothing less than a nail-biting series here. We’ve got to take it one day at a time, one session at a time, and win it. Keep ourselves in the process and not really get too ahead of ourselves.”

Shahbaz Nadeem
Shahbaz Nadeem. Getty Images

Ravichandran Ashwin Thought England Played Really Well Last Time In 2016

Ravichandran Ashwin also observed that even though England lost the previous Test series in India 0-4, the result did not reflect how well they played.

He said in this regard: “The last Test series we played (against England) was back in 2016. That was also a great series. I thought England played really well last time. The scoreline might not suggest the real story. We (again) expect a really good England side to give a wonderful series to us.”

Karun Nair
Karun Nair (Credits: Twitter)
India hammered England in four of the five Tests the last time the two sides locked horns in Indian shores in 2016. The final Test of that series was played in Chennai, which will host the first two Tests of the ongoing series. In that Test, India created history by registering their highest-ever Test total of 759 for 7 declared. In the same game, Karun Nair became the first Indian after Virender Sehwag to register a Test triple hundred.

The four-match India-England Test series kicked off on Friday, with England winning the toss and batting first. England are 151/2 in 60th over with both opener Dom Sibley and skipper Joe Root scoring unbeaten fifties. Opener Rory Burns (33) perished to Ravichandran Ashwin off a reverse sweep. Soon thereafter, Jasprit Bumrah, playing his first home Test, trapped Dan Lawrence lbw for a duck.

Related Article
IND vs ENG: We Do All Of Our Conversations Away From The Game And Just That Enjoyment – Joe Root
IND vs ENG: We Do All Of Our Conversations Away From The Game And Just That Enjoyment – Joe Root

Feb 7, 2024, 3:38 PM


IND vs ENG: There Is No Glory In Failure Or Defeat – Geoffrey Boycott Slams Ben Stokes And Brendon McCullum Over Bazball Approach In India
IND vs ENG: There Is No Glory In Failure Or Defeat – Geoffrey Boycott Slams Ben Stokes And Brendon McCullum Over Bazball Approach In India

Feb 7, 2024, 2:06 PM


IND vs ENG: He Does Struggle Sometimes With The Tempo Of This Bazball Era – Alastair Cook On Joe Root’s Struggle To Adapt To An Aggressive Brand Of Cricket
IND vs ENG: He Does Struggle Sometimes With The Tempo Of This Bazball Era – Alastair Cook On Joe Root’s Struggle To Adapt To An Aggressive Brand Of Cricket

Feb 7, 2024, 11:46 AM


NZ vs SA: Kane Williamson Equals Don Bradman And Joe Root’s Home Test Century Records Following His Impressive Centuries Against South Africa
NZ vs SA: Kane Williamson Equals Don Bradman And Joe Root’s Home Test Century Records Following His Impressive Centuries Against South Africa

Feb 6, 2024, 2:29 PM


He Doesn’t Need To Play Like That: Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton Criticise Joe Root
He Doesn’t Need To Play Like That: Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton Criticise Joe Root

Feb 6, 2024, 10:39 AM


IND vs ENG: I Thought He Under-bowled Himself As Captain – Ben Stokes On Utilising Joe Root’s Bowling Prowess In The 1st Test
IND vs ENG: I Thought He Under-bowled Himself As Captain – Ben Stokes On Utilising Joe Root’s Bowling Prowess In The 1st Test

Feb 2, 2024, 12:32 PM