India vs England 1st Test: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Hyderabad Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, Stats & Record

Team India and England will lock horns in first of the five-match Anthony de Mello Trophy Test series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, starting on Thursday (January 25).

Rohit Sharma-led India will clash with Ben Stokes' England in a highly-anticipated red ball series as Bazball faces the home side's spin threat on challenging surfaces in the sub-continent.

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad pitch report, weather forecast & Test stats and record ahead of India vs England 1st Test

India is heading into the series on the back of a 1-1 away series result in South Africa earlier this month, while England are playing in their first Test assignment since the 2-2 Ashes draw at home to Australia in June-July 2023.

The home side will miss the services of star batter Virat Kohli in the series opener in Hyderabad, and the second Test in Visakhapatnam at the start of next month, while England also were dealt a blow with Harry Brook withdrawing from the entire tour.

India and England will meet for the first time in Test format at the Hyderabad venue, which has so far hosted five Test matches in which the home side have won four and drawn one.

Now, before their first-ever Test meeting at the venue, here is a look at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Stats, Record, Pitch Report and Hyderabad Weather Forecast ahead of India vs England 1st Test:

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Pitch Report

The pitches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium have been batting friendly, but have also assisted quicker bowlers as opposed to the spinners like most wickets in the country. However, this will be the first five-day game in a while since the last Test at the venue.

The last time a Test match was hosted at the venue, India ran out winners by 10 wickets against West Indies in 2018 when the game ended inside three days as the hosts chased down 75 in the fourth innings.

Although India played three specialist spinners, it was a pacer who dominated the wickets list in that Test as Umesh Yadav (6 for 88 & 4 for 43) claimed ten wickets. While pacers have found joy, the wicket may be prepared for the Indian spinners this time around.

Overall in the five Tests so far, the team batting first and the team batting second have registered equal number of wins with 2 victories each with captains winning the toss mostly preferring to bat first to get runs on the board.

Hyderabad Weather Forecast for January 25 to January 29

The weather forecast from Thursday (January 25) to Monday (January 29) indicates warm conditions throughout the playing days with max temperature of 32° C. There is no threat of rain on any of the match days or in the lead up to the match. So, weather will not play spoilsport in the Test series opener.

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Test Stats and Record

Matches: 5
India Won: 4
Visiting Team Won: 0
Match Drawn: 1
Matches Won Batting 1st: 2
Matches Won Batting 2nd: 2
Highest Team Total: 687/6 by India vs Bangladesh in 2017
Lowest Team Total: 127 All Out by West Indies vs India in 2018
Average 1st Innings Score: 404
Average 2nd Innings Score: 377
Average 3rd Innings Score: 205
Average 4th Innings Score: 131
Highest Individual Score: Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) - 225 vs India in 2010
Best Bowling Innings: R Ashwin (India) - 6 for 31 vs New Zealand in 2012
Best Bowling Match: R Ashwin (India) - 12 for 85 vs New Zealand in 2012
Most Runs: Cheteshwar Pujara (India) - 510 runs in 5 innings
Total Fifties: 23 Fifties
Most Fifties: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virender Sehwag, Ajinkya Rahane (India) & Kane Williamson (New Zealand) - 2 Fifties Each
Total Hundreds: 11 Centuries
Most Hundreds: Cheteshwar Pujara & Murali Vijay (India) - 2 Centuries Each
Total Double Hundreds: 3 - One Each by Cheteshwar Pujara & Virat Kohli (India) and Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)
Total 150 plus scores: 2 Each by Cheteshwar Pujara & Murali Vijay (India)
Total Sixes: 49 Sixes
Most Sixes: Harbhajan Singh (India) - 7 Sixes
Total Fours: 601 Four
Most Fours: Cheteshwar Pujara (India) - 66 fours
Most Wickets: R Ashwin (India) - 27 wickets in 4 matches
Most 10 Wicket Matches: R Ashwin (India) & Umesh Yadav (India) - 1 Each
Most 5 Wicket Innings: R Ashwin (India) - 3 Five Wicket Hauls

India vs England 1st Test Dates, Timing and Telecast Info

Match Dates: Thursday, January 25 to Monday, January 29
Match Start Time (Everyday): 9:30 AM IST
TV Channels: Sports 18-1 SD, Sports 18-1 HD, Colors Cineplex SD & Colors Cineplex HD
Live Streaming: JioCinema