Kuldeep, Umesh Yadav to return? India’s predicted playing XI for fourth Test against England

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KEY STORY

  • Sweeping aside the debate surrounding the pitch used in the pink-ball Test against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Team India will be eager to continue their winning run when they lock horns with Joe Root’s men in the final fourth Test of the ongoing series.
  • India thrashed the visitors by ten wickets in the pink-ball game to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
  • With a World Test Championship final spot on the line, India will have to avoid a defeat against England in the fourth Test to confirm their berth in the summit clash against New Zealand.
  • The final will be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground later this year. A defeat will end India’s hopes of qualifying enabling Australia to progress.
  • India were expected to retain the winning combination for the all-important encounter but with no Jasprit Bumrah in the squad, the hosts will be forced to make a couple of changes in the bowling attack.
  • Bumrah’s departure might pave way for Umesh Yadav’s comeback or Mohammed Siraj’s return in the XI.
  • If the pitch remains a ran-turner that will assist spinners as it did in the third Test, India might also bring back Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI in place of Washington Sundar, who got to bowl only 4 deliveries across two innings in the pink-ball Test. Kuldeep played in the second Test in Chennai where he returned with a couple of wickets.
  • The batting line-up is expected to remain intact with Rohit Sharma opening the innings alongside Shubman Gill.
  • Both Rohit and Gill remained unbeaten in India’s 49-run chase in the second innings of the third Test to hand the hosts a thumping ten-wicket win. Skipper Virat Kohli will look to end his century drought ahead of the limited-overs leg.
  • Axar Patel and R Ashwin, who ran riot against the English batsmen in the third Test to pick 18 of the 20 wickets that fells across the two innings, are expected to once again play a crucial role with the ball for Team India.
  • The spin duo will have to be on top of their game to ensure India’s progression into the final of the World Test Championship.

    India’s predicted playing XI for 4th Test:

    Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav/Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma

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