New Delhi: Down 2-1, India were already up against it as the fourth Test was in a venue they haven’t won in nine attempts, losing four times and managing five draws. Injuries have made the task of pulling level for the second time even tougher for Shubman Gill’s boys in Manchester.
All-rounder Nitish Reddy is out of the remaining two matches of the series with a knee injury while seamer Akash Deep has to sit out the Old Trafford game due to a groin issue.
It has made India’s seam-bowling options so limited that uncapped Anshul Kamboj could make his debut as partner to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj when the match begins on Wednesday, all-rounder Shardul Thakur is also in the fray after the opening march at Headingley.
In such a scenario, added responsibility would be on spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to provide greater cushion to the batting line-up.
To add more solidity to their batting that crumbled in the third game at Lord’s, India could opt for the combination of one spinner (Jadeja) and specialist batters till number six with both Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan included in the playing XI.
The visitors would look to their captain Gill and openers Yashavi Jaiswal and KL Rahul for launch of big partnerships at the top of the order. Rishabh Pant would be expected to pack a punch, which he is accustomed to doing in crunch situations.
Whatever be the combination, it is imperative that clicks, otherwise they would have to play catch-up in a match that is do-or-die for them.
Sole change for England
England have much less to worry about. Not only they are ahead, they have a settled look though they would like their fumbling top-order to fire now.
They have already declared their playing XI with left-arm orthodox spinner Liam Dawson poised to return after eight years to replaced the injured Shoaib Bashir, who has undergone surgery on his fractured finger.
The Squads:
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj.
England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (vc), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.
Match begins at 3.30pm IST.
Live telecast on Sony Sports Network.
Live streaming on JioHotstar app and website.