India and England will face off against each other in the fourth test match at Kennington Oval, London from September 2 to September 6. The five-match Test series is leveled 1-1.
After a historic victory in Lord’s, India faltered at Headingley, Leeds, losing the test match by an innings and 76 runs. Electing to bat first, the visitors were bowled out for a paltry 78. In response England put on 432 runs, and took a first-innings lead of 354 runs. Joe Root slammed another century, his third of the series. The hosts wrapped up the match on day, as they bowled India out for 278 runs.
England win the third #ENGvIND Test at Headingley & level the series 1-1 against #TeamIndia.
We will look to bounce back in the fourth Test, starting September 2.
Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/FChN8SDsxh pic.twitter.com/bwV926w2Vt
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 28, 2021
Heading into the fourth test match, the Indian team has a lot of worries to sort out. Let’s take a look at the predicted playing XI of Team India for the fourth test match against England at Kennington Oval, London.
KL Rahul
Opening batsman KL Rahul is having a great run in the ongoing five-match test series. He is the leading run-getter for India, with 252 runs in six innings, at an average of 42. Rahul was the Player of the Match in the Lord’s test match.
The opener got out cheaply in Leed’s test, however, given his form, it shouldn’t bother India much. The visitors will back their in-form batsman to come good in the upcoming test match.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is probably in the form of his life in red-ball cricket. He has amassed 230 runs in six innings, at an average of 46. The opener has done a brilliant job of seeing off the new ball in most of the innings so far in this series.
Rohit Sharma got out cheaply in the first innings of the third Test but led a solid platform along with Cheteshwar Pujara in the second innings. He scored 59 runs in 156 balls, including seven boundaries and a six.
Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara will be relieved going into the fourth test match. He was under scrutiny for his inconsistent run this year. However, his knock in the second innings of Leed’s test match will boost his confidence.
Cheteshwar Pujara slammed 91 runs off 189 balls, including 15 boundaries. He capitalized on poor deliveries, putting the pressure back on the opposition bowlers. India will be hoping that their batting mainstay continues from the last test.
Virat Kohli
Indian skipper Virat Kohli had a decent outing in the Leed’s test match. He scored 55 runs in the second innings of the test. However, his dimissal will play a lot on his mind going ahead in the series.
Virat Kohli has scored 124 runs in five innings at an average of 24. 80 so far in the series. He will be determined to better his average and lead India to come back in the series.
Hanuma Vihari
Middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari is likely to replace vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in the playing XI. Rahane, since his match-winning hundred in Melbourne, has struggled to score runs consistently. His performance is being criticized heavily by the pundits.
Hanuma Vihari has previously played only one test match in England. He scored 56 runs in two innings. However, the middle-order batsman’s gritty match-winning knock in Australia, makes him a front runner to replace Rahane.
Rishabh Pant
India’s wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has underperformed so far in the ongoing test series. He has managed on 87 runs in five innings, at an average of 17.40. Pant has done a good job, behind the wickets, but has struggled with the bat.
Last time, Pant played at the Kennington Oval in London, he slammed a century, 114 runs of 146 balls, including fifteen boundaries and four sixes. He will be hoping to repeat the feat in the upcoming test match.
Ravichandran Ashwin
India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was left out of the playing XI in the first test match. He decided to go in and then continue to play with the combination of four pacers in the series. However, given Ravindra Jadeja’s contribution with the ball, Ashwin may get a chance to feature in the XI for the next test.
The off-spinner has played seven test matches in England and has taken 18 wickets at an average of 28.11. Recently, playing for Surrey, Ashwin bagged a five-wicket haul against Somerset in the County Championship.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has performed well in the ongoing test series agianst England. He is the leading wicket-taker for India with 14 wickets in three matches, with 9/110 being his best match figures.
Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets in the Leed’s Test match, dismissing Joe Root and Ollie Robinson. India will be hoping that their bowling spearhead will lead them to a comeback in the series.
Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur played in the first Test and took four wickets in the match. However, an injury ruled him out of the next test. The pacer is likely to make a comeback in the fourth test match replacing Ishant Sharma.
Ishant looked off-color during Leed’s Test, as he conceded 92 runs in 22 overs at an economy rate of 4.2. Shardul Thakur has taken 11 wickets in three matches in his Test career so far. He is also a handy batsman lower down the order.
Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj has been very impressive in the ongoing test series so far against England. This is his first tour of England, and the pacer has taken 13 wickets at an average of 26.46, with 8/126 being his best match figures.
Siraj picked up two wickets of Dawid Malan and Sam Curran in the Leed’s test match. Given his form, India will back him to play well in the fourth test.
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami has taken 11 wickets in the series so far, at an average of 27.54. He was probably the only Indian bowler to leave an impact in the Leeds Test match.
Shami picked up four wickets for 95 runs, dismissing opener Rory Burns, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, and Craig Overton. The pacer will be hoping to continue his form in the next Test.
