PHOTOS: Performance of top 5 present Indian batsmen against England in Tests

New Delhi, Nov 8: With the first of the 5 Test series starting on Wednesday (Nov 9), India is all set to lock horns with England at Rajkot's Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

India-England series schedule; Photos

Brimming with confidence following back-to-back triumphs over West Indies and New Zealand, world number 1 India would be odds-on favourites when they take on England in what is expected to be a gruelling five-Test series.

Both fans and experts feel that the hosts will be having an upper hand over visitors, given the kind of form Indian cricket team is in. But the performance of most of the top batsmen in the existing Indian batting lineup do not have good numbers against England.

Thus, almost every senior batsman in the Indian dressing room has a perfect opportunity to improve their batting figures against the English side because they are playing at home.

Except Cheteshwar Pujara, no Indian batsman in the side has good numbers under their belt. Even India's batting mainstay and run machine Virat Kohli's performance against England does not do justice with his stature.

Kohli too would be hoping to improve his figures against England, that so far has been a nemesis.

Here's the performance of the top 5 Indian batsmen against England:

'Run Machine' Virat Kohli's bat has been silent against England

Virat Kohli Test performance (overall):

Matches: 48, 82 innings

Runs: 3,554

Hundreds: 13, Fifties: 12

Highest Score: 211

Average: 45.56

Kohli Test performance against England:

Matches: 9; 17 innings

Runs: 322

Hundred: 1, Fifties: 0

Highest Score: 103

Average: 20.12

'Comeback man' Gautam Gambhir:

Gautam Gambhir Test performance (overall):

Matches: 57, 102 innings

Runs: 4,125

Hundreds: 9; Fifties: 22

Highest Score: 206

Average: 42.52

Gambhir Test performance against England:

Matches: 11, 20 innings

Runs: 739

Hundred: 1, Fifties: 4

Highest Score: 179

Average: 36.95

Murali Vijay, the consistent opener

Murali Vijay Test performance (overall):

Matches: 42, 72 innings

Runs: 2,823

Hundreds: 6, Fifties: 14

Highest Score: 167

Average: 39.76

Vijay's Test performance against England:

Matches: 5, 10 innings

Runs: 402

Hundred: 1, Fifties: 2

Highest Score: 146

Average: 40.20

Ajinkya Rahane - the man who hit historic ton at The Lords

Ajinkya Rahane Test performance (overall):

Matches: 29, 50 innings

Runs: 2,209

Hundreds: 8, Fifties: 9

Highest Score: 188

Average: 51.37

Rahane's Test performance against England:

Matches: 5, 10 innings

Runs: 299

Hundred: 1, Fifties: 2

Highest Score: 103

Average: 33.22

Cheteshwar Pujara: Best batsman against England in the existing lot

Cheteshwar Pujara Test performance (overall):

Matches: 38, 64 innings

Runs: 2,855

Hundreds: 8, Fifties: 10

Highest Score: 206*

Average: 49.22

Pujara's Test performance against England:

Matches: 9, 17 innings

Runs: 660

Hundreds: 2, Fifties: 1

Highest Score: 206*

Average: 44.00

OneIndia News

Story first published: Thursday, August 3, 2017, 7:38 [IST]

Sporting Buzz