Rajat Patidar
In the pre-match press conference, Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed confidence in Rajat Patidar’s abilities that the struggling No. 4 batsman will get another chance. The return of Jasprit Bumrah will boost the pace department but there is uncertainty over the composition of the bowling line-up.
India’s selection conundrum and strategic choices have come into sharp focus in the run-up to the fifth and final Test against England in Dharamsala. While the No. 4 position remains in contention, the team management is mulling whether to opt for three-seam bowling instead of the tried-and-true three-spin attack.
While captain Rohit Sharma expressed confidence in the young talent, Rajat Patidar’s struggles in his debut series have raised questions about his place in the team. Since the physical form of K.L. With Rahul still uncertain, Rajat Patidar may get another chance to shine, although Devdutt Padal remains a viable replacement.
The return of Jasprit Bumrah will strengthen India’s bowling and Mohammed Siraj is likely to join him as the second fast bowler. The spin department is expected to be led by Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, although weather conditions may lead to changes in the squad.
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Rohit Sharma hinted that he might play as an additional seamer depending on the weather conditions in Dharamsala. In this case, Kuldeep Yadav is likely to be lost and Akash Deep will take his place as the third seamer.
After the series ends in Ranchi, India will look to extend their dominance in the World Test rankings with another strong performance. However, the decisive factors for the course of the game are the pitch conditions and the cold weather, which are favorable for the English team.
Despite the traditionally favorable conditions in Dharamsala for anglers, spinners can still play an important role, as evidenced by past and recent Ranji Trophy matches. Although the pitch is initially flat, the underlying moisture is expected to provide movement to the fast bowlers, especially in the early innings.
As both teams head into the unknown due to cold weather, the contrasting views of Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow highlight the uncertainty surrounding the ground situation for the fifth Test. Interesting leads and challenging playing conditions set the scene for a thrilling finish to the India-England Test series in Dharamsala.
India Predicted XI for 5th Test:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar/Devudutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav/Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.