India vs England: I am backing England, if Virat Kohli plays like Joe Root is right now, we are in for a treat, says Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann has picked England as the favourites to win the crucial fifth Test match against India, starting July 1 at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. The fifth Test was cancelled last year and had to be rescheduled due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Indian camp. India are leading 2-1 from the series played in August-September last year. Four of the five Tests were played, with one ending in a draw. Many, including England's Moeen Ali feel that if the series was completed last year itself, India would have won. The current England Test team however is operating at a very high level and have just whitewashed New Zealand, the reigning World Test champions 3-0. The new captain-coach combination of Ben Stokes and Brendon MCullum have started their stints on a high. Former captain Joe Root who was the leading run-getter overall when India played 4 of the 5 Tests last summer is still in red hot form. Root scored 396 runs in 6 innings vs the Kiwis in the recently concluded Test series, with two centuries and a fifty and an average of 99.

Joe Root (AP Photo)"It is quite simple for England, it will be Joe Root and Ben Stokes. If they continue their form, the way they are playing this summer, England will do well. Ben Stokes is leading from the front. He is a natural leader. He enjoys it when the crowd is involved. He is getting confidence from his players. Joe Root is thriving and batting at his absolute best. It is a pleasure to watch him bat," Swann said in response to a question by TimesofIndia.com during a media interaction. So what about the Indian team? The last time India went to England and largely dominated the Test series, Virat Kohli was the captain and Ravi Shastri was the coach. Now that combination