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India's three back to back Test series defeats against England:
India have lost last three Test series to England (2011 and 2014 in England and 2012 series at home) but Kohli and Company would want to dwell on the past and desperate to improve.
Last time when India played a Test series against the English it was in England (2014) and lost by a margin of 3-1. When the English side last toured India, the result wasn't different either. India were humiliated by the visitors in 2012-13 as they lost the 4 Test series 2-1.
Virat's poor batting record against England:
Virat Kohli, who is now team's backbone, has worst record in Tests against England. In 9 Tests he has played against England, Virat averages a mere 20.12, and slammed just one hundred, while his career average is a healthy 45.56.
In the last five games he played against Cook and Co. his average further plummets to 13.40. His bat was silent on the entire tour of England. He was widely criticised for his technique, throughout the series, as he was dismissed behind the stumps or in the slips on multiple times on that tour.
Absence of important batsmen:
Kohli has emerged as India's batting mainstay in the last couple of years, but the absence of in-form key players such as KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma would pose an extra burden over the shoulders of the Indian skipper.
Rohit's absence in the middle order would also be a cause of concern for the skipper who now will have to depend on either young Karun Nair or Hardik Pandya, both of whom are yet to make their debuts.
Also, team's most experienced batsman Gautam Gambhir too had a poor show against England when the left-handed opener last played against them.
Deadly combination of England's pace and spin:
Stuart Broad will be leading the English pace attack against India in the Test series as James Anderson will be missing the first Test. With 46 wickets in 12 outings, Broad has a formidable record against India.
Chris Woakes, who will be partnering Broad has had a great Test season, this year.
With 11 wickets in two Tests, young Ben Stokes was the only high point for the English on Bangladesh tour. He impressed all with the consistent reverse swing against Bangladesh and will cause a lot of trouble to the Indian batsmen.
Deadly combination of England's pace and spin:
Spinner Moeen Ali inflicted maximum damage against India on the 2014 tour. The right-arm off-spin bowler grabbed 19 wickets in the 5 Tests and was almost unplayble by the Indian batsmen.
Kohli and Company would be hoping to improve his Team's batting performance against English bowlers.
Team India can't be complacent:
Despite whitewashing New Zealand in the previous Test series and an added advantage of home conditions, Kohli faces a tough task of dominating Alastair Cook and Company.
There is no scope for being complacent as England is still a formidable side studded with match winners like Cook, Joe Root, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali.
