January 23, 2019 (Reuters) - India hasn't lost a home test series in over ten years, but that impressive record could be jeopardized when Rohit Sharma's team plays England in a five-match series that starts in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Under coach Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes makes his comeback from knee surgery to captain the team. Together, they are prepared to adopt the ultra-aggressive style that has given the test format new life.

Since the pair assumed leadership in 2022, England has not lost a test series, but defeating India in India—a place that former Australia captain Steve Waugh dubbed the "final frontier"—remains the hardest task in the sport.

India will start as favorites despite having a hole in their batting order shaped like that of Virat Kohli, having lost their last test series in the 2012–13 campaign.
Due to personal circumstances, Kohli will miss the first two games. This late development has India wondering how they will replace what is likely to be this era's top batter.

Veteran Cheteshwar Pujara is back in the mix, and uncapped players Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar are reportedly included as well.
The choice of wicketkeeper, who plays a crucial role on India's freely shifting pitches, is another major dilemma facing the hosts.
While KS Bharat, a specialist, should ideally be behind the stumps, India may rely on KL Rahul's excellent batting in Kohli's absence.

However, India's attempt to win a home test series for the 17th time in a row depends on how well their three-pronged spin attack—Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel—performs.

Test cricketer Jasprit Bumrah commended England's aggressive strategy, saying it keeps him in the game as a bowler. He thinks he will have more wicket possibilities because of their fast-paced approach, which won't wear him out. He did, however, remark that this tactic might not be effective in India. Harry Brook's retirement meant that England had to change their batting order; Ollie Pope came in at number three, while Ben Foakes most likely took up the keeping gloves.

The former captain of New Zealand talked enthusiastically about the forthcoming series, looking forward to the difficulties that would put their strategies to the test. He underlined the essential elements of cricket, such as the necessity of outscoring the opposition with the bat and taking 20 wickets in a test match. He said these fundamentals weren't too difficult, but what really captivated him were the intricacies of the game—determining whether to follow a plan and when to stray from it. Important players like Ben Stokes, James Anderson, and Joe Root for England, and Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah for India are included in the rosters for the series, indicating an entertaining match between the two dominant teams in cricket.