New Delhi: The series will be on the line for India when they take on Ben Stokes-less England in the must-win 5th Test at the Kennington Oval in London, starting Thursday, July 31. Their spirited draw in Manchester earned India a lease of life, keeping them alive in the series as the visitors pulled off a miraculous escape with a stellar batting effort in their second innings.
India now have a chance to deny England a series victory by drawing things level at 2-2 in the final Test at the Oval. England are currently leading the series 2-1, but India have the momentum on their side after their heroic draw in the Manchester Test. England might have the scoreline in their favour, but it has been a series of equals, with the two teams fighting tooth and nails, not willing to give another an inch.
It has been a fiercely competitive series, with all four Test matches going into the 5th day and no result being handed over easily. Both teams have given their all so far, and in the process have taken a huge toll. While India will be without Rishabh Pant at The Oval, England will miss skipper Ben Stokes and pacers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, along with spinner Liam Dawson, in the crucial encounter.
Shubman Gill has batted like a man possessed in his debut Test series as captain, and has done reasonably well as captain. While he has missed out on a chance to script history by winning the series, his men still have a strong chance of ending things all square at The Oval, by drawing the series level at 2-2. But India will need to get a few things right and avoid mistakes from the past to make it possible.
1) Team selection
India’s team selection has been far from perfect in the series so far, but the visitors can’t afford to make a mistake this time around. India will have to get their selection right if they are to fancy their chances of beating England and avoiding a series defeat at The Oval. India have already named Dhruv Jurel as the replacement for injured Rishabh Pant, but will have to figure out their bowling combination for the Test match.
Will Kuldeep Yadav feature? Kuldeep has been in the reckoning for a while, with many calling for his selection in the series. However, the left-hander failed to make the cut in the first four Tests. But he could be in for a suprise return at The Oval after India’s failed experiement with Anshul Kamboj. India produced a spirited batting performance in Manchester, but their bowling was underwhelming in the 4th Test.
Kamboj is likely to make way for Arshdeep Singh after his struggles in the Manchester Test, while Akash Deep is expected to replace Jasprit Bumrah, who is likely to be rested after completing his quota of three Tests in the series. Kuldeep can replace Shardul Thakur in the XI after the all-rounder went wicket-less in the last game. The left-arm spinner, who is a genunine wicket-taker, can be an X-factor in India’s bowling line-up at The Oval.
2) Not letting the guard down
India have produced a close fight against England despite being a young team that is currently in transition. The visitors have often been let down by their letting their guard down in crunch moments. During the third Test at Lord’s, India were in a strong position chasing 191 in their second innings, but the batters failed miserably as the visitors lost despite a valiant effort from Ravindra Jadeja.
During the first Test in Leeds as well, India had their chances which they failed to capitalise on to succumb to a defeat. The hosts will have to ensure their shoulders don’t drop under pressure and they battle it out the way they did in Manchester to keep England at bay. Led well by Gill, India have been impressive in phases in the series so far, and a colective effort at The Oval might help them sail through as they aim to level the series.
3) Shubman Gill’s captaincy
A lot will also depend on how Shubman Gill marches his troops in the must-win clash. While he has been sensational with the bat, Gill’s captaincy has been far from perfect, showcasing he is not a finished product yet. His bowling changes and tactical decisions will have to be spot on as India head into the must-win Test against England.
Gill has also been emotionally charged throughout the series and has often let his emotions get the better of him, which has cost India on a few ocassions. The Indian skipper will have to ensure he keeps his emotions in check and is calm under pressure to run the show at The Oval. Aggressiveness is not associated with Gill, but the Indian skipper has shown his other side in the ongoing series against England.
However, he will have to find his sweet spot between being calm and using his energy in the right direction to help India secure a draw in the series.