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As the enthralling Test series between India and England progresses, all eyes are set on the upcoming third Test scheduled to commence on February 15 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. With the series finely poised at 1-1, both teams are gearing up for a fiercely contested battle to seize the advantage in this pivotal encounter.
India faces significant challenges with key players missing due to injury concerns. Virat Kohli remains sidelined, Shreyas Iyer’s is out of contention after poor scores and KL Rahul has been ruled out for 3rd Test. Ravindra Jadeja returns to the XI.
Rohit Sharma (C)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shubman Gill
Rajat Patidar
Sarfaraz Khan
KS Bharat/Dhruv Jurel (wk)
Ravi Ashwin
Axar Patel
Jasprit Bumrah
Kuldeep Yadav
Mohd Siraj
England started the series on a high note, clinching a hard-fought victory by 28 runs in the opening Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. However, India bounced back emphatically in the second Test in Visakhapatnam, registering a convincing 106-run win to level the series.
England faces their own set of challenges, with captain Joe Root nursing a finger injury and his availability uncertain for the third Test. The visitors will look to bounce back strongly after conceding the advantage in the previous match, with key players like Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes, and James Anderson expected to lead the charge.
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root/Dan Lawrence
Ben Stokes (C)
Jonny Bairstow
Ben Foakes (wk)
Tom Hartley
Rehan Ahmed
Mark Wood
James Anderson
WK: Ben Foakes
BAT: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Shubman Gill
ALL: R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja (subject to fitness clearance)
BOWL: Jasprit Bumrah, Tom Hartley
The Rajkot pitch (Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium) is expected to offer assistance to spinners, with the surface likely to deteriorate as the match progresses. The side winning the toss is likely to opt bat first, capitalizing on favorable batting conditions.
The weather report suggests clear skies, providing ideal conditions for an uninterrupted contest between bat and ball.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been the standout performer for India, amassing runs with remarkable consistency and resilience. His ability to anchor the innings and score big runs will be crucial for India’s success in the third Test.
Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling form adds potency to India’s bowling attack, posing a significant threat to England’s batting lineup.
India enters the third Test as favorites, backed by their formidable record on home soil. The hosts are tipped to emerge victorious and seize a crucial lead in the series. The betting odds heavily favor India, with England facing an uphill battle to stage a comeback.