One of the biggest Test series within the international cricket sphere is about to get underway as the giants of England and India lock horns over the course of five matches.
These teams last met in India back in late 2023 and early 2024, a series which the host nation won 4-1.
The last series between the pair on English soil finished 2-2 – but Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes will be hoping to go one better this time around.
So, read on for NetBet’s preview of the First Test, featuring the latest cricket odds and some online betting tips.
England vs India First Test Preview
Headingley in Leeds plays host for the First Test, with the action getting underway tomorrow morning.
It is a ground which England have a fantastic record at. In fact, the Three Lions have won the last five Tests at Headingley, a run which includes a victory by an innings and 76 runs over India in August 2021.
So even with a new-look side, particularly in the bowling department with the Stuart Broad and James Anderson era now over, confidence levels will be high in the England camp.
Furthermore, this is uncharted territory to some degree for India, as legendary batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have called time on their Test careers.
Spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin has also retired from the format, so in some ways this is the beginning of a new era for the Indian Test team.
Talented batter Shubman Gill is the new captain and he will need support from the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
England have a much more experienced leader in the mercurial Stokes – and the Durham ace proved in the convincing win over Zimbabwe last month that he is ready to resume his all-round duties with the ball.
The Three Lions won four of their previous five Test series’, while India have lost the last two – a shock 3-0 home defeat to New Zealand followed by a 3-1 failure in Australia.
It cost the Indians a place in the World Test Championship Final, so the pressure is on Gill and his comrades to get off to the best possible start in this cycle.
England may have something to say about that, though, especially in front of a raucous Headingley crowd where winning has become a great habit…
England vs India First Test Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Home advantage means England are favourites for the win here at 1.58. India are priced at 2.65, while an unlikely draw – given the weather forecast – is at 11.00.
England vs India First Test Betting Tips
Joe Root to score a 50 in the match – Yes @ 1.70
England’s greatest ever batsman has a typically fantastic record against India. Root averages 58.08 with the willow, amassing a total of 2,846 runs. We are backing the Yorkshireman to start the series with a bang.
Shubman Gill to score a 50 in the match – Yes @ 1.98
This selection is far more of a risk than the one above. New India skipper Gill really struggled in English conditions previously, averaging just 14.66 across three matches. But the leadership role may be exactly what he needs to really ignite his Test career. As captain of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League, Gill has enjoyed a lot of success, which could transmit to the longest format.
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