History unkind to India on England turf

Virat Kohli and the Indian cricket team is all set to take on England for a five-match Test series, starting August 4. While India will be looking to turn the tide and register a rare victory over the English side, the Joe Root-led side will be aiming to avenge their 1-3 loss in the subcontinent earlier this year.

While we wait for the high-octane Test series to begin after a couple of days, here’s a quick look at how the history hasn’t been kind to the Men in Blue whenever they have toured the United Kingdom.

Since 2007, India have not won a Test series in England. Their last two visit to England in 2011 and 2018 ended in heavy defeats – 0-4, 1-4, respectively.

The 2014 series, which was a nightmare for the Indian captain, saw the visitors lose another 5-match Test series 1-3. During that series, Kohli returned with scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0, 7, 6 and 20 in five Tests, averaging 13.50 in his ten innings.

In the 2007 tour of England, India played three-match Test series, winning one and the remaining two ending in a draw. In this particular series, India were led by Rahul Dravid and fast bowler Zaheer Khan was adjudged man of the match for ending the match with nine wickets under his belt.

Batting first England was bundled for 198, as Zaheer and Anil Kumble shared 7 wickets between them. Then, India, in their first innings, scored a big 481, powered by the Indian middle order.

England, in their second innings, put up a fighting 355, led by Michael Vaughan’s 124 and set India a target of 73, which the visitors overhauled rather easily.

Prior to this series, dating back to 1932, India have toured England 14 times and have won only two times, and have managed to draw once.

If we look at the record starting in 1990, India lost the three-match Test series 1-0. In 1996, India lost another three-match Test series 1-0. And then managed to win the 2002 series under the guidance of Dravid.

So, in total, India have toured England 18 times and only manage to register a victory three times.

This time around, India will not only aim to win a Test match at a country that has proven to be their kryptonite but will be aiming to register an emphatic win.