Gautam Gambhir, Zaheer Khan make contrasting predictions for Eng-India Test series

As India prepare to take on England, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan have predicted the outcome of the series.

While Gambhir said that England might clinch the series, Zaheer took the more conservative route as he predicted a 1-1 scoreline.

"I feel that England has an edge. Because they have got James Anderson and Stuart Broad. I always believe Anderson has a part against India. If you look at history, Anderson will always go at India. England always goes hard at India and I feel they have an edge. But, India got the variety to do it this time. They have got the bowling to pick 20 wickets for the team," Gambhir said while speaking to Cricbuzz.

'If the wickets are flat, India have a chance'

Zaheer, on the other hand, said that he expects a few flat tracks to be dished out owing to which India might win a match on the trip. Also, since the pitches might not have enough assistance for teams to pick up 20 wickets and hence there will be matches without any result.

"It would be interesting to see what kind of pitches the game will be played on. If the wicket is batting friendly, India will have a great chance and stay in the fight. I still feel going at Oval, 1-1 is what I am expecting. England would start cautiously. There will be flat tracks to play on. We might not get results. So, 1-1 is all I am expecting," Zaheer said.

Gambhir also said that the hosts have the experience in the bowling and their batting attack has the depth. He believed that Alastair Cook can never been counted out and with Joe Root and Jos Buttler the depth in the batting is tremendous. Also, Ben Stokes renders the all-round balance to the team and thus they have the edge. 

While India won the T20I series, England came back strongly to clinch the ODI series and hence the stage is set for a real humdinger of a Test series.

The first match of the 5-match Test series will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham between August 1 and 4.