New Delhi, June 16 -- Former left-arm spinner Monty Panesar has rated India as the "favourites" ahead of his former side, England, and believes that under the dynamic duo of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, the tourists will triumph in the five-match Test series by a 2-0 margin.

India has been solidifying its preparations in Beckenham ahead of the first Test, scheduled to kick off on June 20 at Headingley. The five challenging Tests will mark the commencement of not only the new World Test Championship cycle but also a new era in Indian cricket.

The fourth-ranked Test team will line up without its batting bigwigs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who bid adieu to the Test format last month. Along with the batting wizards,...