India bank on a perfect team game, eye titanic comeback
After Trent Bridge win, Virat Kohli’s men look to continue momentum at Southampton
change anything,” Kohli, who will be leading India in his 39th Test, said on Wednesday.
While Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane found form with vital fifties in the third Test, India will hope openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan build on the half-century stands they provided at Trent Bridge.
Interestingly, 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw, the U-19 World Cup-winning skipper drafted in as the third opener for the last two Tests, has had long batting stints in the last two days and comes into the side after doing well for India A in England.
PACERS ON TOP
India have never won three Tests in an overseas series, but fast bowler Mohammed Shami has cautioned they will have to take one match at a time. India pacers have stood out so far, taking 38 of the 46 wickets in the first three Tests to match England in the department this time.
That means a spiteful pitch can hurt England as well. England’s worries are on opener Alastair Cook’s poor form. The 33-year-old scored 180 for England Lions against India A, but has scores of 13, 0, 21, 29, 17 in this series with Ishant Sharma having had his number.
Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow’s finger injury is likely to force him to play as a batsman at No 4.
At Tuesday’s training, Bairstow had a long conversation with coach Trevor Bayliss. He will bat at No. 4 as regular batsman, skipper Joe Root confirmed.
Jos Buttler, who scored a century in Trent Bridge and kept wickets after Bairstow was injured, will don the gloves.
Victory will keep India on course to record history as only one team — Don Bradman’s in the 1936-37 Ashes series at home — has rallied to win from 0-2 down.
MIDDLE ORDER
In the first two Tests, India’s middle order meant Virat Kohli, for batsmen on either side of him weren’t contributing significantly. Joe Root at three for England, despite the failures in the last two Tests, will pip India’s Cheteshwar Pujara to the post. Similarly, Olie Pope is no contest
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT HOW THE TWO ATTACKS FARED IN NOTTINGHAM, YOU’LL BE FORCED TO PUT THE INDIAN PACE QUARTET AHEAD