Virat Kohli, leading the Indian side, is set to pursue a world record as he returns to the crease for the first Test against England at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. This marks his return to international play after taking time off for paternity leave, and he'll be looking to start his comeback on a high note.
With the first Test scheduled for Friday, the squad sees the return of several mainstay players. The stakes are high for Kohli: a century in this opening match would see him overtake Ricky Ponting for the most international hundreds scored by a captain. Such a feat would give him 42 centuries as captain—the most ever globally—and bring his Test century count to 28.
Right now, Kohli and Ponting are deadlocked at the top of the rankings, both having recorded 41 centuries.
India's schedule against England includes four Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is, and they are coming off a high after their successful run in Australia. England, however, is equally prepared, arriving after a dominant 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka and feeling comfortable with the local conditions of the subcontinent.
This series represents the first major international cricket event hosted in India since the start of the pandemic. Its successful execution will be a deciding factor for the BCCI in determining whether the upcoming IPL season can be held domestically or must move to the UAE.