India vs England: Ian Chappell calls hosts 'Unbeatable' due to Virat Kohli's return

India vs England Test series is one of most-anticipated cricketing events of year which will also mark return of international cricket in India post COVID-19 era. Ahe of high-profile series, re has been a lot of talk about team selections, favourites, strengths and weaknesses of each side. Cricketing pundits have been sharing ir views and predicting ir playing XIs for India vs England 1st Test which is set to start on February 5 in Chennai.

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Ian Chappell opens up on India vs England series, calls home team 'favourites'

w, former Australian captain, Ian Chappell has spoken in length about upcoming contest and has also termed India as 'favourites' to win series. In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Chappell wrote that after an exhilarating victory over Australia Down Under where y beat all odds, India's confidence will be sky high. He ded that when one ds name Virat Kohli to batting order, team suddenly assumes a bulletproof cloak. According to Chappell, after ditions of R Ashwin, Hardik Pandya and Ishant Sharma to list of available players, hosts take on an unbeatable appearance.

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Reflecting upon top-order of both sides, Chappell reckoned that hosts have vant because of ir top three batsmen (Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara) being more technically sound as compared to England's top three of Rory Burns, Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley, who haven't been in best of form recently. Speaking about middle-orders, Chappell opined that Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant and possible dition of Hardik Pandya have India well placed to take full vant of any good start.

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He furr said that England are similarly placed with Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler as ir lethal weapons. Chappell stated that possible return of Ollie Pope would d some dependability to threatening nature of that section of batting order. However, he mitted that Buttler's departure after first Test and possible return of Ravindra Jeja to Indian line-up will furr strengn hosts and could be a worrying sign for visitors.

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SOURCE: CRICKET.COM.AU