India v England 1st Test – 05/02/2021

India v England 1st Test Preview – Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Predictions – 05/02/2021

India host England in Chennai for the first of four mouthwatering Test clashes.

Virat Kohli’s side heads straight here after the brilliant series success in Australia, while England have just put Sri Lanka to the sword.

Discover our free cricket betting tips for this match.

India v England 1st Test – Match Preview

England visit India for a Test series for the first time since 2016-17, when they fell to a 4-0 defeat.

The visitors have since chalked up two series wins over India in England but a victory here would be their first since the trip in 2012-13.

The last time England played a Test in Chennai they lost by an innings and 75 runs.

Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

When: Friday, 05 February 2021

Start time: 09:30 IST (04:00 GMT)

Pitch conditions: The pitch in Chennai tends to be hard and dry before breaking down later in the Test. It will be easier to bat on in the first few days before cracks and footmarks begin to help spin bowlers.

Weather conditions: There is no chance of rain for this match. A number of bright, sunny days are forecast with temperatures around 30 degrees most of the time.

India v England 1st Test – Latest Odds

Hosts India are the short favourites to start this series with victory. They are priced at 1.502 with 1xBet.

England can be backed at 4.74 with the same betting site. The draw is available at 5.5.

India v England 1st Test – Team News

• Virat Kohli – India skipper Kolhi returns to lead the team after missing most of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
• India Injury Issues – Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin and KL Rahul all missed the series decider against Australia but could return for this clash. Mohammed Shami remains injured and has not been selected.
• Rishabh Pant – The India wicketkeeper took his form to another level in Australia. He bagged two half-centuries on his way to being India’s top run-scorer of the series.
• Zak Crawley – Batsman Crawley suffered an arm injury after a fall and misses this Test. Ollie Pope has been added to the squad and looks in line for a recall after an injury of his own,
• Joe Root – The England captain will be key again for his side if the recent Tests in Sri Lanka are anything to go on. He plays spin well and is a man in form.
• Moeen Ali – The spinning all-rounder is back in contention after a positive Covid result kept him out of the Sri Lanka series. He was one of England’s star men during the last tour of India and that might be enough for him to be handed another opportunity.
• Jos Buttler – The England wicketkeeper is due to head home after this Test. It will be his only action and he’ll be keen to impress before handing over the gloves to Ben Foakes.

India v England 1st Test – Betting Tips and Predictions

It is hard to look past India for the victory, especially after a depleted outfit was able to dig out a brilliant success in Australia last month.

England are likely to have their moments but Kohli’s men will likely be too strong on home soil.

Given their short price for the overall win, looking at other markets is the best way of finding value.

Back Pujara for Top Batsman

Cheteshwar Pujara was in sparkling form in Australia and as resolute as ever.

He looks a great bet to be India’s top first innings batsman at 4.0 with 1xBet.

Pujara’s last four innings read 77, 50, 56, 25, so he’s clearly a player seeing it well. He also excelled when England were last in India in 2016-17.

With Virat Kohli heading the market but coming back from a break, there is also some value to that price.

Joe Root to Star Again

England may well have had a much trickier time in Sri Lanka if it wasn’t for their skipper.

Root made 426 runs in just two matches and it is hard to look beyond him in the race to be England’s top first innings batsman.

His price of 2.984 with 22Bet looks fair given how England’s openers may struggle in these conditions.

Root also shone the last time he played Test cricket in India with 491 runs in five matches.

Sundar a Great Outside Bet

Washington Sundar continues to improve on the international stage and might just have done enough in the final Test to keep his place for this match.

If the off-break bowler is selected, he is a great price to be India’s top first innings bowler. While the pitch will suit him more later in the match, he has the ability to take wickets early as well.

He followed up his two wickets in Sydney with four more in Brisbane and is priced at 5.5 with 22Bet.

His 62 first innings runs in Brisbane also highlighted his improvements with the bat. If he does fire with both then there is also a lot to like about the 19.0 with 22Bet in the man of the match market.

Read our round-up of the best cricket betting tips for this clash.