5 reasons why England won't be able to repeat the series win of 2012 against India

The England Test team is visiting India after a gap of 4 years to play 5-match series. They have defeated India 3 times in a row twice at home and once away. They have fond memories of their last trip in 2012 when they defeated India 2-1 in a 4-match series.

After England losing the first Test at Ahmedabad, everyone had predicted an easy win for India in the remainder of the series, but to everyone’s surprise, visitors came back strongly to win the next two games at Mumbai and Kolkata respectively. The last Test at Nagpur ended in a draw but England had already clinched the series.

But the times have changed now, there are massive differences in the performances of both sides in the recent times. India has reclaimed the number 1 spot in Tests and England suffered its first ever defeat against Bangladesh. This series is expected to produce different results from the previous one.

Here are the factors that suggest that England won’t be able to replicate the heroics of the last tour:

1. No Kevin Pietersen:

The legendary batsman was made the scapegoat after England’s embarrassing Ashes 2013/14 defeat down under and has been missing from the squad since. He was instrumental in the England’s triumph on the last tour to India and whether the selectors agree or not, he will surely be missed by the team.

His innings of 186 in the first innings of the second Test at Mumbai was one of the best in the history of English cricket. That inning was the turning point in the team’s fortune that kept getting better after that. He scored two crucial fifties in the two Tests that followed and left the Indian bowlers clueless.

Also read – Virat Kohli is as good as it gets: Kevin Pietersen