As the highly anticipated 5-match Test series between India and England approaches, former England spinner Monty Panesar has suggested a unique strategy for the visiting team to gain an advantage over India's star batter, Virat Kohli.
Panesar, known for his spin expertise, advised the English team to engage in sledging and play mind games with Kohli.
Panesar specifically recommends playing with Kohli's ego and psychologically getting stuck into him. He suggests using verbal tactics, such as reminding Kohli about India being labelled as "chokers" in finals.
What did Monty Panesar say?
"Play with his ego and get psychologically stuck into him. They should also say things to him like, you guys are chokers when it comes to the final. They should sledge him on those lines because Stokes has won the ODI and T20 WC and Kohli has not and that is going to mentally pinch him," Panesar told India.com.
Additionally, Panesar predicts that veteran English pacer James Anderson will be the key to getting the better of Kohli in the Test series. He anticipates that Anderson's mastery in reverse swing will pose a challenge for the Indian star.
It's worth noting that Anderson has a formidable record against Kohli, having dismissed him only once in 10 Test matches in India. However, Kohli has managed to score 305 runs against Anderson, making it the highest by any player against the experienced pacer in Tests.
The first Test match of the series is scheduled for January 25 in Hyderabad.
What is Virat Kohli's Test record against England?
| Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 0s | 4s | 6s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vs England | 2012-2022 | 28 | 50 | 3 | 1991 | 235 | 42.36 | 3824 | 52.06 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 235 | 2 |
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What is the schedule for the India vs England Test series?
The schedule for the Test series between India and England is as follows.
1st Test: January 25-29
2nd Test: February 2-6
3rd Test: February 15-19
4th Test: February 23-27
5th Test: March 7-11
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Which venues are hosting the India vs England Test series?
The stadiums which are set to host the five Tests are as follows.
1st Test: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
2nd Test: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
3rd Test: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
4th Test: JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi
5th Test: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala
How to watch the India vs England Test series live from India?
The match will be broadcasted on TV by the Sports18 network, who acquired the rights to broadcast India's home games in 2023 in a five-year deal. Meanwhile, fans can stream the matches online for free on JioCinema.
| Tournament | Dates | Online stream | TV Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|
| India vs England Test Series | January 25, 2024 - March 11, 2024 | JioCinema | Sports18 SD & HD (English), Colors (Tamil, Bangla, Kannada), Colors Cineplex Superhits (Hindi) |
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