India’s dominance in Test cricket is undeniable, with two consecutive appearances in the ICC World Test Championship finals, an unbeaten home record since 2012, and two historic away series victories in Australia. Their status as the team to beat was recently highlighted by former England cricketer Ian Bell, who called India “the best in the world at the moment.”
England, meanwhile, is gearing up for a major challenge as they prepare to host India for a five-match Test series in July 2025. Bell believes this will be a critical series for England, especially as they look ahead to the next year of Test cricket.
“They’ve (England) got one eye on the next 12 months, with five Test matches against India at home. That will be a huge challenge,” Ian Bell told PTI. He emphasized the strength of the Indian side, adding, “India are probably the best team in the world right now.”
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England’s aggressive brand of cricket, nicknamed “Bazball,” has earned them headlines and impressive results, but they failed to secure a spot in the WTC final. In the current WTC cycle, India and Australia have set the pace, leaving England trailing. Bell reflected on England’s past success in India, recalling their victory on Indian soil as part of the journey to becoming the No. 1 Test team. He believes England have the talent and ability to reach that level again.
India’s consistency, especially in winning Test matches away from home, is what makes them so formidable. “That’s what we’ve seen with India – they’ve managed to win away from home as much as anyone, and that’s why they’re the No. 1 team in the world at the moment,” Bell said.
England’s resurgence under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes has transformed the team. Bell praised the management for unlocking the potential of players like Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook. “The results have been fantastic. What they’ve done is to get the best out of their talent,” Ian Bell noted.
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He acknowledged that players like Crawley and Pope are flourishing under this new approach, which allows them to play to their strengths rather than imitate past greats like Alastair Cook or Jonathan Trott. As England prepares for the upcoming series against India, the clash promises to be a test of contrasting styles and mindsets, with both teams aiming to assert their dominance on the global stage.
