Ajinkya Rahane had captained the team brilliantly in Australia in the absence of Virat Kohli and won the series 2-1 that included the Fortress Gabba breach. As Virat Kohli comes back after the paternity leave, it becomes an advantage for India against England in the Test series. Former England captain Kevin Petersen feels that the Kohli-Rahane dynamics will be an interesting narrative during the series.
“Kohli, Anderson, Ajinkya Rahane, how’s he going to go, being captain in Australia and then coming back and Kohli, how’s that dynamic going to work? It’s going to be a very interesting dynamic. I think that might be, something that is talked about a lot during this series,” Pietersen said on Cricket Connected, a Star Sports’ show.
Petersen said that they will be many key players for India but the emphasis will be given on the Kohli-Rahane dynamics.
“You have got Jofra Archer, can he knock over Pujara? Bumrah’s back… there are so many different permutations that could happen in this Test series, but I think there’s going to be a very interesting story that’s going to run through this series – Kohli comes back as captain after Ajinkya Rahane was so good in Australia.”
He feels England have not sent their best team and selects India as his favourite.
“India’s got experience at home, they definitely do. They’ve got Kohli coming back….England has not taken their best team for the first two Test matches. I think Johnny Bairstow has to be there and I don’t think he’s going to be there. India are definitely favourites. 100% they’re the favourites, because England haven’t taken their best team or they’re certainly not starting with their best team,” Pietersen said.