India v England 2024, first men's Test: All you need to know

Start times, location, TV and streaming information, squads, form, odds, weather and more...

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What is it?

The first of five Tests between India and England.

When is it?

The match is scheduled to begin on Thursday, January 25. The first ball is due to be bowled at 9.30am local time (4am GMT).

Where is it?

The first Test will be held at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.

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Gus Atkinson is one of three uncapped players in England's squad [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]

Who's got the form?

England have won 13 of their 18 Tests since Brendon McCullum was appointed head coach in 2022, including home series wins over New Zealand and South Africa and a 3-0 away win in Pakistan.

However, they haven't won a men's Test series in India since 2012, which was also the last time India lost a men's Test series on home soil.

When the two sides met in 2021, India completed a 3-1 series win, with spinners Ravichandran Ashwin (32 wickets at 14.71) and Axar Patel (27 wickets at 10.59) wreaking havoc with the ball.

England have never previously played a Test match in Hyderabad; India have played five, winning four and drawing one.

What's the squad news?

England have selected three uncapped bowlers in their 16-strong travelling party, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson and spinners Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley all eyeing potential Test debuts. Bashir's involvement has, however, been overshadowed by visa issues which are delaying his arrival into India.

Harry Brook returned home for personal reasons ahead of the squad flying to India and has been replaced by Surrey's Dan Lawrence, who bats in a similar position and offers an additional spin option alongside Jack Leach (returning from the stress fracture which derailed his summer), Rehan Ahmed and Joe Root.

Ben Foakes, whose most recent Test outing came last February, is back and will challenge Jonny Bairstow for the gloves.

India, led by Rohit Sharma, have suffered a player withdrawal of their own, with Virat Kohli set to miss the first two Tests for personal reasons. His replacement is yet to be confirmed.

The hosts are also without pace bowler Mohammed Shami, who hasn't played since November's World Cup final due to an ankle injury, but are blessed with an array of spin options in Ashwin, Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.

Uncapped wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel was the surprise call-up in the India camp.

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, KS Bharat, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Avesh Khan, Virat Kohli (withdrawn), Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav

England: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook (withdrawn, replaced by Dan Lawrence), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood

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India will be without Virat Kohli (right) who has withdrawn from the first two Tests [Randy Brooks/Getty Images]

What is the weather forecast?

Dry conditions with sunny intervals are expected in Hyderabad, with temperatures peaking around 29 degrees Celsius.

What are the odds?

India are favourites to win the first Test, with odds of 1/2. An England victory is available at 7/2 while a draw is the least likely result, with odds of 7/1.

India trio Ashwin (7/1), Jadeja (9/1) and Sharma (10/1) are among the favourites to pick up player of the match honours.

How can I watch it?

In the UK, TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) will show the entire series after making a late bid to secure the broadcast rights. The first Test will be shown on TNT Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 3.45am. TNT Sports can be streamed live via the Discovery+ app.

Talksport will provide live radio commentary for listeners in the UK.

In India, Sports 18 will televise the series while all five matches can also be livestreamed via the Jio Cinema app or website.

Elsewhere in the world, fans in Australia can catch the series on Fox Sports while in South Africa, Supersport will have all of the action. In USA, WillowTV will provide live coverage.

Subscribers get exclusive access to the best analysis of England's Test tour of India from our chief correspondent George Dobell. Join them by signing up here for just £3.99!


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