England vs India ODI Series- A Statistical Preview

India's Wrist-Spin Threat

India's wrist spinners have been turning games on their heads

That India has always been a batting giant has never been doubted. Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli- India have churned out the greatest in almost every decade in the last 40 years. But, with England having the batting to match up to the visitors for once, it'll be up to the bowlers to make all the difference in the world. And if recent form is anything to go by, they may well be up to the challenge. Especially, the twin wrist-spinners- Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

In the last 12 months, spinners have picked up 84 wickets for India in ODIs- the most among full members, after Afghanistan. Their bowling average of 26.13 is also second only to Afghanistan. The English tweakers, on the other hand, concede almost 8 runs more than the Indians per wicket taken. 4 times an Indian spinner has taken 4 or more wickets in an innings over the last 365 days. Again, only Afghanistan do better. However, it needs to be noted that only 2 of Afghanistan's games came against a Team ranked in the Top 9.

Since the last World Cup, Kuldeep and Chahal have picked up 82 wickets between themselves at an average of less than 21, and an economy rate of 4.78. The other Indian spinners have picked up 112 wickets in the same period, at an average of almost 45, and an economy rate of almost 6. These numbers tell the story of the impact that the two Indian wrist spinners have had.

However, it may not be the same joy ride for them in this stories. Alex Hales and Joe Root average in excess of 130 in ODIs since the World Cup against wrist spin. Four other English batsmen average more than 40 against the same, with only Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes not doing well. At home, the record gets scarily better for England. Only 3 wickets have been lost for 697 runs against wrist-spin. This series will, without a doubt, be the most daunting one for India's spin twins yet. However, if the recent 5 T20Is against Ireland and England are anything to go by, the two are more than up for the challenge.