IND vs ENG: 4th Test Preview – India eye series victory and spot in WTC final

The fourth and final Test between India and England will commence on 4th March at the Narendra Modi Stadium where the previous game, the Pink ball Test, took place. Pitch was the talking point during and after the match which ended within two days. However, many argued, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, that the batsmen didn’t apply themselves on a turning pitch.

Having said that, the focus will again be on the pitch when two teams take the field in the final game of the series. England have been knocked out of the World Test Championship while a draw is enough for the Virat Kohli-led side to make it to the final. In case, England wins this game, Australia will go through to the title clash against New Zealand.

Match Info

4th Test – India vs England

Venue – Narendra Modi (Motera) Stadium, Ahmedabad.

Time – 9:30 AM IST

Head to Head

Stat attack

Jonny Bairstow has 4 ducks in the last 5 innings against India in Tests, including a pair in the last Test.

Joe Root will be playing his 50th Test as a skipper. He will be the 5th England captain to reach this landmark.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s last Test century came in 2019 and his last Test ton in India came in 2017.

Team News

India:

The hosts have released Jasprit Bumrah from the squad after he requested. Umesh Yadav or Mohammed Siraj will most likely replace him as the selectors have decided against naming any replacement. Washington Sundar was specifically included for the Pink Ball Test to strengthen batting and bowling. But he might end up missing this Test with Kuldeep Yadav replacing him in the XI.

England:

As a part of their rotation policy to rest players, Chris Woakes has now travelled back home and will not be available for the fourth and final Test. However, he could be back for the subsequent ODI series. England have already tried a lot of players in this series and Stuart Broad might miss out as he has played back to back Tests now. Olly Stone or Dom Bess, depending on the conditions is likely to replace him. Both the players can play too if England decide to rest Anderson.

Probable XI