India will face England in the series’ fifth and final Test match to be played at HPCA Stadium, Dharmshala from 7th March onwards. Rohit Sharma and Co currently lead the series at 3-1 with some brilliant performances without key players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Shami.
The fifth test would see R Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow play their 100th match for their respective countries. It promises to be an exciting encounter as the Indian team would look to consolidate their top spot in the 2023-25 World Test Championship points table.
Both teams have top-quality players in their ranks who can change the course of the match with their abilities.
Here we look at the 5 Players To Watch Out For In the 5th Test:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal looked impressive in the fourth test match at Ranchi. He showed class during the first innings as wickets fell from the other end. Jaiswal made the batting look easy as Rohit Sharma fell early. After a decent partnership, Gill, Rajat Patidar, and Ravindra Jadeja could not contribute much. He was dismissed for a well-made 73.
Chasing down 192 runs in the 4th innings, Jaiswal looked impressive on the 3rd evening with some lovely shots. He played according to merit before a stunning catch by James Anderson ended his innings at 39. Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma added 84 runs for the opening wicket.
He will play a key role in challenging conditions which would help the bowlers. If Jaiswal can see the threat of new ball, he can put the England team under pressure with his explosive batting and help Team India win the match.
- Joe Root
Joe Root will look to continue from where he left off in the 4th test match at Ranchi. Coming at 47 for 2, Root played according to merit and made the batting look easy. He looked composed and remained not out on 122 helping England post 353 in the first innings.
Root also looked decent enough in the second innings before the reversal of the LBW decision ended his innings. He will play a key role in England to steady the ship and help them to put pressure on Indian bowlers.
He will be aware of his nemesis Jasprit Burmah this season and hopes to score runs helping England challenge the Indian team.
- Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin will play his 100th test match from tomorrow onwards. He had a disappointing outing in the first innings at Ranchi before producing match-winning spell picking 5 wickets that helped India bowl out England for 145.
He will be eager to showcase his all-round abilities in the 100th test match and help the Indian team register a dominating 4-1 series victory.
The conditions at Dharmshala could see Ashwin included in the playing XI and he would be a handful if the pitch helps the spinners. Along with that, he is a handful with the bat lower down the order.
- Shoaib Bashir
Shoaib Bashir had a dream test match in Ranchi. He bowled with great control, picking 5 wickets in the first innings including Gill, Patidar, Ravindra Jadeja, Jaiswal, and Akash Deep Singh.
He looked impressive in the 2nd innings, also getting wickets of Rajat Patidar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sarfaraz Khan. Despite his efforts, England could not break the partnership of Jurel and Gill as India won the match by 5 wickets.
Bashir was included in the playing for the 2nd Test at Vizag. He would play a key role in providing wickets that would put pressure on Indian batters.
- Jasprit Bumrah.
India’s star bowler Jasprit Bumrah will be making a comeback in the playing XI after resting from the 4th test match at Ranchi. He has been the difference during the series helping India to provide breakthroughs when partnerships were going on.
Bumrah would be eager to continue from where he left in Rajkot. The conditions initially will help the pacers and make sure that he provides early breakthroughs that would put enough pressure on England’s batters.
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