England's Stokes Unfazed by India's 'Ginormous' Talent: A Pre-Test Showdown

England captain Ben Stokes emphasized that the absence of Indian cricket stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin will not diminish the challenge of facing India, acknowledging the 'ginormous' talent pool the country possesses. As India enters a transitional phase, Stokes held a pre-match press conference on Thursday ahead of the England-India Test series start.

Stokes acknowledged the significant contributions of the absent trio but expressed confidence in India's ability to fill their roles with equally skilled players. He also pointed out the threat posed by bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who he referred to as a remarkable performer globally. However, Stokes emphasized that England would focus on the team rather than individual players.

Ollie Pope's selection at No. 3 was straightforward, according to Stokes, after Pope's impressive 171-run performance in his last Test. Stokes also praised all-rounder Chris Woakes, underscoring his leadership and contribution to the team's success under his and coach Brendon McCullum's leadership.

(With inputs from agencies.)