India needs to defeat England in the fourth test, which starts in Ranchi on Friday, 23rd 2024 in order to win the series, but it will be really tough for the home side without their full strength pace bowling attack while the English team aims to maintain their aggressive style of play.
India’s leading wicket-taker in this series, Jasprit Bumrah, has been given rest for the 4th test match to manage his workload thanks to India’s 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
It is now Mohammed Siraj’s responsibility to spearhead India’s pace attack after Mohammed Shami withdrew from the series due to an ankle ailment. The second seamer, Akash Deep is also anticipated to make his test debut.
India, who have not lost a test series at home since losing to England in 2012, are predicted to choose a spin-heavy attack.
India in their batting department looking much stronger as Sarfaraz Khan scored double fifties in his debut test in Rajkot, but middle order batsman KL Rahul, who hurt his thigh in the first test in Hyderabad, is still not fully recovered. Additionally making his debut in Rajkot, wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel demonstrated his batsmanship with a fluid 46.
“The youngsters are really smart, which is great news for us”, India batting coach Vikram Rathour told reporters on Thursday.
“Of course, our domestic cricket is so strong that you are pretty assured that only quality players are coming through”.
After a very bad defeat by 434 runs in Rajkot, England have decided to bring in seamer Ollie Robinson and spinner Shoaib Bashir, replacing Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed.
As the English skipper, Ben Stokes plans how to keep England in the series, the 32-year-old was more concerned about the condition of the Ranchi surface. “I’ve never seen something like that before. I have got no idea so I don’t know what could happen,” Stokes told British media.
“It looked green and grassy up in the changing rooms but then you go out there it looked different: very dark and crumbly and quite a few cracks in it.”