Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes the Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, will struggle against England in the absence of senior pros Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Hussain Backs England for 3-1 Win
The first Test between England and India kicks off on June 20th at Headingley. Hussain feels England are the stronger side, even without their full-strength bowling attack. He emphasized that England are always strong at home and said that advantage could be the difference.
"England have a very good record at home, and India will miss the runs and experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli," said Nasser Hussain.
"It's a hard one to call, but I think home advantage will swing it England's way, and I'm going for 3-1," he added.
Also Read: IND vs ENG Pitch Report & Weather Updates at Headingley, Leeds: India tour of England, 1st Test
Graeme Swann: “This Series Is the Perfect Ashes Warm-up”
Meanwhile, former spinner Graeme Swann also weighed in, saying India could struggle in the early matches. In his view, the England-India series is the ideal preparation for the upcoming Ashes.
"It's got to be the perfect warm-up for the Ashes, to be honest. India is a huge series. The last two or three times we've gone to India, we've been thoroughly outplayed. So, in our own backyard, on home turf, we need to beat India. We need to play well," Swann said.
Swann went a step further than Hussain and predicted a 4-1 series win for England. He also echoed the sentiment that India would miss the presence of Rohit and Kohli.
"They are not going to have Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma—two absolute superstars with the bat."
Swann added that England's bowling attack is well-equipped to make the most of home conditions.
"So yes, they have great players coming in, but we've got bowlers who exploit our conditions well and bowl effectively."
He concluded by saying that a strong win against India would give England a massive confidence boost heading into the Ashes.
"I think England must look to win this series, and they should aim to do it convincingly. I would take 4-1, but 3-2 at a push. I really hope we do well and carry that confidence into the Ashes," Swann concluded.
Stay tuned for more updates on the India tour of England 2025.
