Cricket purists, strap in. This is as good as it gets. Two of the world’s top three sides are going head to head for the better part of two months in a Test series. India have a home advantage, while England are the darlings of the format with their new Bazball revelation… Who knows how this will unfold, but we analyze the best India vs England odds ahead of the first clash on Thursday.
England have grabbed headlines over the past two years with their outrageously aggressive approach to Test cricket under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. They largely passed their first big Test by drawing the Ashes; if they can win a series in India, that would be the cherry on top. Can they do it, or will this be a bridge too far? You’ll be surprised by some of the IND vs ENG cricket betting tips that we suggest.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | England tour of India 2024 (five Tests) |
| 🏟️ Venues: | Stadiums across India |
| 🗓️ Dates: | Thursday, 25 January to Monday, 11 March 2024 |
Ahead of our IND vs ENG cricket Test betting predictions, let’s look at what the best bookmakers in India have to say going into this series. Here are the India vs England odds for the first Test of the series:
Given India’s track record at home, the hosts are heavy favorites coming into the first Test of this series. The Men in Blue return just 1.44 (4/9) for victory in the opening fixture, well ahead of England’s odds of 4.33 (10/3). A draw returns moderate odds of 7.00 (6/1) as well.
England and India have a long history of playing cricket against each other. The two first clashed in 1932, with England first touring India in 1932/33. Overall, India lead the head-to-head across the two shorter formats, with a record of 58-44 in ODIs and 12-11 in T20Is. However, the format that matters for this tour, England have an edge, having won 50 Tests to India’s 31, with 50 draws.
Looking at Test matches specifically, here’s how the past five meetings between India and England have unfolded:
India come into this series having played two Tests recently against South Africa away. South Africa won the first of these comprehensively before India did well to nab a seven-wicket win in the second, leveling the series. Before this, India had not played a Test since mid-2023, when they sent a B-squad to beat the West Indies after losing the World Test Championship final to Australia.
England have been even less active in the format, with white-ball cricket taking precedence over the past six months. Their last Test series was the Ashes, way back in June/July 2023. As we all know, this was a brilliant series that ended in a 2-2 draw, courtesy of a strong English comeback after losing the first two Tests.
Based on the highest cricket odds we could find, we’ve come up with the best IND vs ENG cricket betting tips ahead of the first match this week:
3 (100%)
0
There’s a reason why it’s been over a decade since England last won a series in India. Playing Test cricket in the subcontinent is arguably the hardest task there is in the sport. The heat, the pitches, the conditions – it all takes a toll on visiting teams.
While we do think England will get some pay this series, it’s very unlikely to be in the first Test of the series. Likely, they will take some time to get used to the conditions and acclimatize. Outside of this, the new Bazball England have been slow starters in series regardless. Just take the Ashes, where they lost the first two Tests before finding their mojo. It’s not the most lucrative bet, but bookies are paying 1.44 (4/9) for a reason – India are very likely to win here.
2 (67%)
(33%) 1
The way we see this first Test unfolding is that England struggle to adapt to the conditions. Chances are, they’ll find themselves half a dozen wickets down for little runs at some stage. Usually, when this happens, Jonny Bairstow fights fire with fire and comes out swinging. While this is unlikely to get him a double century, there’s every chance that a quick 40-70 will be enough to take out the top score for England in the first innings.
2 (67%)
(33%) 1
While it’s typically spin that thrives in India, we say that’s more likely to come in the second innings. In India’s first-turn bowling, expect veteran Jasprit Bumrah to inflict the most damage on England. Variable bounce from the pitch, plus tough, hot conditions, will mean English batsmen are susceptible to Bumrah’s elite fast bowling. It would be no surprise if the pacer grabbed himself a five-for in the first innings.
An absolutely delicious roster of cricket awaits over the next six weeks, as Bazball meets Bollywood in the subcontinent. While we think England have a good shot at causing some waves in India, the best cricket tips all say it won’t be in the first Test. Expect Bumrah to rip through the English line up, Bairstow to offer up some resistance, but the visitors to go down 1-0 at the end of the day.
