Mumbai, April 8 (NationPress) Moeen Ali, the former England allrounder, has expressed confidence that Ben Stokes and his team will triumph in the five-Test home series against India following a closely contested battle. This highly anticipated series kicks off right after the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, with the inaugural Test scheduled to commence in Leeds on June 20.

"I believe England will clinch a tight series," remarked Ali, who is known as the Utility Man of English cricket and stepped away from all forms of international cricket in September last year. A standout in white-ball cricket, having secured two World Cups in 2019 and 2022, Moeen is currently showcasing his skills with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2025.

It is often overlooked that this Birmingham icon also ranks as the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history among England spinners, with 204 wickets, trailing only the legendary Derek Underwood and Graeme Swann.

"India is an excellent team, but many players will be visiting England for the first time. While it may seem straightforward, succeeding in England requires experience… just as it has been for Virat Kohli as well," Moeen Ali shared in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).

This series marks India's first red-ball challenge since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in 2025-26, in which they faced a 1-4 defeat against Australia. It will be a significant test for India, whose capabilities in red-ball cricket will be scrutinized away from home.

India's matches in this five-match series will take place at Leeds, Birmingham, Lord's, Manchester, and The Oval, starting June 20 and concluding in early August.

Reflecting on India’s last encounter in England during the 2021-22 series, Moeen noted that the outcome might have differed if India had not withdrawn from the series with one match remaining due to the pandemic. "We were not performing well in the first four Tests, but when the decider happened after a significant break, England appeared transformed," he stated.

The England white-ball teams faced significant challenges during their visit to India for an ODI and T20I series prior to the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year. Following their victorious World T20 campaign in Australia, England seemed vulnerable in both the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and the previous T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean.

Moeen attributed a key factor for this shift to the frequent changes within the team since Eoin Morgan's departure.

"The mindset transformed after Morgan left. He stood by us through thick and thin, and someone like Trevor Bayliss was also instrumental. People often overlook how exceptional players like Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, or Morgan were.

"During that period, altering the squad was challenging. You can’t just introduce youngsters unless they are exceptional talents like Harry Brook, who is outstanding. This creates a sense of insecurity within the team, which is reflected in performance," said Ali, for whom KKR is the third franchise in IPL after Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings.

Regarding the IPL, the 37-year-old Ali, with five Test centuries and over 200 wickets, believes his future lies in franchise cricket. He fondly recalls his four seasons with Chennai under Mahendra Singh Dhoni. "I played for them for four seasons, three under MSD and one when Ravindra Jadeja briefly captained. I was fortunate to bat regularly at No.3 and be part of two winning teams," he reminisced.

The cricket community in England recognizes him as a cult figure in Birmingham, where he was born to a family of Pakistani descent. A mention of his roots resonates deeply with the humble cricketer as he reflects: "I hail from an inner-city area in Birmingham, and people there relate to me more. Whether I’m playing for Birmingham Phoenix or England, I always receive a warm welcome.

"I aimed to inspire individuals from diverse backgrounds and believe I have made my contribution," he concluded.