India v England 2nd Test tips: Rashid, Stokes real shouts with bat and ball for tourists

India v England

India v England 2nd Test tips

England’s bowling attack gave hosting India a real scare on the final afternoon of their first meeting in a five-Test series, yet the tourists had to be content with a draw.

The series moves on to Visakhapatnam where another draw is a 7/2 chance with Coral. Trevor Bayliss’ team start as 10/3 outsiders to take a Test victory, while India are odds-on at 8/13 to get their noses in front with a win.

Our cricket experts run the rule over the markets here and provide India v England 2nd Test tips for punters to consider…

Adil Rashid odds to be top England bowler

A punt on Adil Rashid odds again looks profitable after his bowling exploits for England last time out.

Touring leg break bowler Rashid’s first Test total figures read 7-178, after a fine four-for in the first innings was followed up with another three wickets tumbling as India clung on for an opening draw.

Backed up by fellow spinners Moeen Ali (3/1 to be best with the ball here) and Zafar Ansari (4/1), it is hard to look past the Yorkshire all-rounder, who is expected to lead the England attack once more.

Following his first Test exploits, Rashid should simply be shorter than 9/4 to do most damage bowling at India again in their first innings.

Coral’s top tip: Take Adil Rashid odds of 9/4 to be top England bowler as the Bradford-born spinner seeks even more Subcontinent success.

Ben Stokes to be best touring batsman

All-rounder Stokes has top scored for England in two of their last three Tests, so looks real value as a 6/1 shot to be top dog with the bat again.

Another of our India v England 2nd Test tips is Ben Stokes to be top touring batsman in the first innings.

His no-nonsense approach at the crease saw Stokes hit 15 boundaries (13 fours and a couple of sixes) en route to a century (128) in the tourists’ first innings against India. This followed up an 85 when battling Bangladesh in Chittagong.

England skipper Alastair Cook, Joe Root (both 11/4) and Test cricket newcomers Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed (11/2 apiece) are shorter than Stokes in this market, but batting at six really works for him.

England to hold a first innings lead

Another appealing punt involving touring England is for them to again hold a first innings lead. Indian pitches have already proven to be no obstacle to a long batting line-up and, if winning the toss and batting or being put in by their hosts, they should feel confident.

Centuries from Root, Moeen Ali and Stokes are easily repeatable, plus there’s the second innings improvement from young opener Hameed to consider too.

A sweet 6/4 price says England can establish a first innings lead again, and the plethora of spin bowling options led by Adil Rashid odds are ready to take advantage of any turn the pitch offers them.

Jadeja best value in top India bowler betting

When it comes to Indis v England 2nd Test tips, side with Ravindra Jadeja to be best home bowler.

While the hosts’ attack hasn’t always been much to write home about, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja did plenty of damage to New Zealand in India’s previous Test series.

Spin bowling is the predictable and profitable punt to side with here, but the right-arm off-break style of Ashwin is a little short at 6/4 to come good again here.

Although Ashwin boasts a staggering 30 wickets in his last eight Test innings for India, he was expensive when it came to giving away runs to England. First innings figures last time out of 1-167 are a concern.

Slow left-armer Jadeja at 5/2 is much better value after taking 3-86 against Bayliss’ boys. He also has 16 victims in his last seven innings, so back him to best when first spinning the ball at England again.

Pujara to perform with the bat for India again

Backing Cheteshwar Pujara to best best India batsman again also appeals among India v England 2nd Test tips.

Cheteshwar Pujara, batting at number three for India, now boasts a Test average of a shade under 50. That is hugely impressive and better than skipper Virat Kohli.

With five half centuries or better in his last four Tests, there can be little doubt he is a man in fine form. In fact, Pujara registered tons against both New Zealand and England last time out.

Punters should have no hesitation, then, in snapping up odds of 3/1 for Pujara to be best at the crease for India again.

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