Kevin Pietersen explains why India have an upper hand over England in upcoming Test series

Former English skipper  Kevin Pietersen has explained why Team India have upper hand over England in upcoming four-match Test series starting Friday. Star batsman Jonny Bairstow has been rested for first two Tests that will be played in Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stium on February 5-9 & 13-17 respectively.

Pietersen feels since England has t picked ir best side for first two games, it makes India favourites for red-ball leg of home bilateral series.

'India's got experience at home': Kevin Pietersen

"India's got experience at home, y definitely do. y've got Kohli coming back. England has t taken ir best team for first two Test matches," said Pietersen on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

"I think Johnny Bairstow has to be re and I don't think he's going to be re. India are definitely favorites. 100% y're favorites because England haven't taken ir best team or y're certainly t starting with ir best team," he ded.

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At same time, KP also wondered wher regular skipper Virat Kohli who makes his return to cricket field after nearly two months (paternity leave) be able to rediscover his rhythm after his deputy Ajinkya Rahane h played a pivotal role in leing India to a historic series triumph Down Under recently.

Apart from that, 2010 T20 World Cup winner also heaped praise on Joe Root's splendid form in recently-concluded Sri Lanka Test series and wondered wher England's Test openers Zak Crawley and, Dominic Sibley have got eugh time to turn ir techniques around.

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"n you have got Jofra Archer, can he kck over Pujara? Bumrah's back... re are so many different permutations that could happen in this Test series, but I think re's going to be a very interesting story that's going to run through this series - Kohli comes back as captain after Ajinkya Rahane was so good in Australia," Pietersen ded.

"I kw Joe Root has been outstanding in Sri Lanka, so he's clearly somebody who's going to come in with a lot of form. England's opening batsmen - have y got eugh time to turn ir techniques around? Sibley did well in last Test match. Has Crawley got eugh time to turn his technique around? Is Burns going to come back in?", cricketer-turned-commentator/analyst furr ded.

Root h amassed 426 runs in four innings at an aver of 106.50 in two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in ir own backyard where England completed a 2-0 whitewash. current English Test skipper h scored 228 in first Test and 186 in second. 

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(With ANI Inputs)