The atmosphere at the JSCA Stadium before the fourth India-England Test was surprisingly quiet the day before the match. This could be the reason why tickets are available for as low as ₹400. For ₹2000, you can enjoy the premium experience of the JSCA President’s Enclosure!
“Gopal, a taxi driver, inquired, ‘Dhoni khel raha hai?’ (Is Dhoni playing?) Upon discovering that one of Jharkhand’s beloved cricketers had retired from international cricket long ago, he then asked about Virat Kohli. Disappointed to learn Kohli wasn’t playing either, he wore an exasperated expression. ‘Team mein bacha hi kya hai,’ (What’s left of the team) he muttered.”
Perception holds significant weight, whether in sports or politics. Despite the absence of Dhoni for an extended period and Kohli in this series, India has largely emerged victorious in that regard. The current Test team is a dominant force, demonstrating resilience by overcoming a 0-1 deficit to take a commanding 2-1 lead over the past month, drawing upon its seemingly limitless depth.
The upcoming fourth Test, commencing on Friday, presents an opportunity for India to secure an insurmountable lead, ensuring a 17th consecutive series win at home, a streak dating back to 2012-13. Perhaps this achievement will persuade Gopal to acknowledge that there’s more to this team than just Dhoni and Kohli.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Sarfaraz Khan have emerged as key players in India’s recent success. Jaiswal’s impressive feat of scoring two double centuries, along with Gill’s resilient performance, including a century and a fifty, despite facing criticism, underscore their significance. Additionally, Sarfaraz Khan’s confident debut in Rajkot, marked by two half-centuries, has further strengthened the team’s depth.
In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, the upcoming speedster Akash Deep stands poised to make his mark, competing with Mukesh Kumar for a place in the squad. While neither may match Bumrah’s exceptional record of 17 wickets at 13.64 this series, their ability to complement Mohammed Siraj’s bowling prowess will be crucial for the team’s success.
The prevailing conditions could prove advantageous. Winter’s lingering presence north of the Vindhyas was evident on Thursday, with the sun intermittently obscured and even a brief spell of light rain. This only heightens the anticipation surrounding the pitch, which many anticipated would heavily favor spinners.
To prepare for any scenario, Ben Stokes has opted to maintain the two-pacer attack from Rajkot, with Ollie Robinson replacing Mark Wood as Jimmy Anderson’s partner. Additionally, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir will be included in the lineup, taking the place of leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.
Yet, England’s fortunes hinge on more than just personnel adjustments. It necessitates a significant improvement in the batting contributions from Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, who have together managed a mere 179 runs thus far. Root, once celebrated for his classical approach, now showcases a distinct unorthodox flair, as evidenced by his dismissal in the previous match while attempting a reverse-scoop off Bumrah.
Nevertheless, England remains steadfast in their commitment to the aggressive Bazball strategy, undeterred by the resounding 434-run defeat in Rajkot, where their second innings lasted a mere 39.4 overs.
Despite calls for caution, the ethos under Brendon McCullum and Stokes dictates an aversion to maintaining seemingly contradictory elements simultaneously. However, this approach has yielded remarkable success since June 2022, with England triumphing in 14 out of 21 Tests. If they secure a 15th victory, it would undoubtedly be their most remarkable achievement yet.
The teams:
India (from):Rohit Sharma leads the team, comprising Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel as wicketkeeper, KS Bharat also as wicketkeeper, Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and Akash Deep.
England (XI): Captain Ben Stokes will lead a team comprising Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes, Shoaib Bashir, Tom Hartley, James Anderson, and Ollie Robinson.
Match starts at 9.30 a.m.
