The India-England Test series progresses to the fourth match at Ranchi's JSCA International Stadium Complex. Both teams face challenges that could define the outcome. The stakes couldn't be higher, with India leading the series, looking to seal a historic victory.
Under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, India has shown remarkable temperament and composure. It is especially important, given the absence of key players. Jasprit Bumrah has been released from the Test squad, and KL Rahul was ruled out due to injury.
Bumrah's absence is particularly significant, as he has been the series' highest wicket-taker so far. His replacement, Mukesh Kumar, who rejoins the team in Ranchi, has big shoes to fill. But Akash Deep could be seen making his debut as well. KL Rahul's absence complicates India's batting lineup. However, the team has demonstrated bench strength, as seen in the previous match at Rajkot, where India secured a commanding win.
For England, captained by Ben Stokes, the series has been a mixed bag of challenges and chances. The team will leverage any advantage against an Indian side that has been tough to beat on home soil. England's strategy would likely revolve around exploiting the conditions in Ranchi. The pitch is expected to favor spin, making the selection of spinners crucial for the match.
Key Indian players to watch include Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently entered the elite 500 Test wickets club. Young talents, Sarfaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal, have shown they can step up when needed. England will hope their top-order batters can challenge India's dominance.
The pitch at Ranchi is anticipated to offer assistance to spinners as the match progresses, which could play into India's hands given their spin bowling prowess. But, England's adaptability and their spin options could make this contest more evenly matched than it appears on paper.
India aims to clinch the series and England looks to level the score. This is why the fourth Test promises to be a gripping encounter for cricket fans worldwide.
Probable Playing XI
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar / Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar / Akash Deep.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes(c), Ben Foakes(w), Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.
Key Players
Yashasvi Jaiswal: The 22-year-old batter has been absolutely brilliant in this series. He has scored two double tons and has a fifty to his name. He will be eager to carry his superb form forward to this match.
Joe Root: The star England batter hasn't even gone past 100 runs in this series. He faces criticism for getting out to rash shots every time. But he must step up if the English team wants to stand a chance of drawing this series level. With over 11,000 Test runs to his name, Root is one of the best batters this game has ever seen, and he will be looking to prove that again.
Match Prediction
This match is poised to be a riveting contest, with India having the upper hand due to their home advantage and the depth of their squad. Despite the absence of key players like Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul, India's strong bench strength, particularly in batting and spin bowling, should see them through.
England, on the other hand, will need to significantly step up their game, especially their batting against spin, to challenge India. Given the conditions in Ranchi, which are likely to favour spin as the match progresses, and India's formidable track record at home, I predict a closely fought match with India will have a better chance of securing a win or a draw to maintain their series lead.