Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah's absence poses a concern for India, but with their assertive and adaptable approach, they hold the edge against England's seemingly shallow 'Bazball' strategy as the two teams face off in the potentially series-deciding fourth Test starting in Ranchi on February 22.
England trail 1-2 in the five-match series vs India
Moving from the dry heat of Rajkot to the cooler climate of Ranchi, the temperature change may offer some relief to the English team, who have struggled against the resilient hosts and currently trail 1-2 in the series.
India's dominance at home since 2012
India, aiming for their 17th consecutive home series win, have been nearly unbeatable since their surprise loss to Alastair Cook's England in 2012. Since then, they have won an impressive 38 out of 47 Tests and have suffered only three defeats (two against Australia and two against England) when facing challenges on home soil.
Leading a depleted batting lineup in the absence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and an out-of-form Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma has turned to the young guns, whose performances have been the standout aspect of the series so far.
Whether it's Yashasvi Jaiswal, maintaining an impressive average of 109 with a total of 545 runs, or Sarfaraz Khan, finally making his Test debut with a blazing 66-ball 62 in Rajkot, or Shubman Gill, gradually settling in at No.3, India's next generation of batters is demonstrating how a seamless transition occurs.
However, replacing Bumrah, the top wicket-taker of the series with 17 wickets, in Ranchi could prove to be India's Achilles' heel. Bumrah has been rested after bowling slightly more than 80 overs in the previous three Tests.
His mastery of reverse swing on day two of the Vizag Test, during a six-wicket burst, was the primary factor contributing to the 106-run win that levelled the series 1-1.
Even on a docile Rajkot pitch, Bumrah managed to make crucial breakthroughs for India.
Bumrah's absence in Ranchi Test
Considering the seaming conditions expected in Dharamsala for the fifth Test and the busy IPL season ahead, Bumrah has been rested, leaving Mohammed Siraj as the only experienced pacer in the lineup.
The selection for the second pacer's slot in Ranchi will likely come down to a choice between Bengal's Mukesh Kumar and the uncapped Akash Deep.
Fresh from his career-best 10-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy, Mukesh is not only more experienced but also partnered Bumrah in the Vizag Test. However, he only bowled 12 overs and took one wicket across both innings.
It remains uncertain whether the Indian team management will take the risk of handing another debut or stick with Mukesh, who has had mixed performances.
Historically, the pitch at the JSCA Stadium suggests a strategy involving two seamers and three spinners would be suitable.
England opted for off-spinner Shoaib Bashir alongside Tom Hartley, replacing leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.
They also have part-timer Joe Root, another off-spin option, who has bowled more overs (107) than scored runs (77) in this series.
However, India have preferred the conventional two-pacer-three-spinner combination, and it's unlikely that Axar Patel will be brought back. The team is expected to continue with Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Ranchi pitch has proven deceptive for visitors
Historically, the Ranchi pitch has proven tricky for visiting teams.
In the last Test here in 2019, South Africa struggled against the duo of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, who claimed 10 wickets between them, compared to the eight taken by the spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Shahbaz Nadeem.
"It has never been a rank-turner. The pitch would be beautiful for batting for first two days and would assist spin from day three. History should repeat itself," the local groundsman told PTI.
For England, the victory in Hyderabad now feels like a distant memory, and a repeat of the 2021 scenario seems probable, where India bounced back to claim a 3-1 series win.
Visitors slumped to a humiliating 434-run loss in Rajkot
The humiliating 434-run defeat in Rajkot has sparked criticism of England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach. While it proved successful against New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and to some extent, Australia, it appears to have met its match in India.
While the attacking style may have benefited players like Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who scored a remarkable 153 in Rajkot, it has also exposed vulnerabilities for players like Root and Jonny Bairstow.
Root was expected to be England's mainstay against the spin challenge, but his dismissal by Bumrah in Rajkot exemplified the struggles he's facing.
The urgency to find a solution is evident in skipper Ben Stokes' decision to expedite his rehab from a knee injury by opting to bowl in the nets ahead of the fourth Test.
The pace attack will once again be led by James Anderson, who will partner with the fresh legs of Ollie Robinson, brought in as a replacement for Mark Wood.
India updated squad
Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.
England playing XI
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson, Ollie Robinson.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
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