Team India took a 2-1 lead against England in their ongoing 5-match Test series. Virat Kohli’s team India won the 4th Test at Oval by 157 runs as Rohit Sharma and Shardul Thakur came up with the goods for the Indians. This was India’s first win at Oval in a span of 50 years. IND vs ENG final Test of the series at Manchester.
India are just one step away from clinching an overseas win against England. Team India needs a win or a draw to cement the away 5-match Test series. The English side will seemingly do everything in their power to cease the embarrassment at their own backyard.
IND vs ENG: 3 Changes India Should Make At Manchester
- Ajinkya Rahane’s replacement
Virat Kohli has a tough decision to make before the 5th Test at Manchester. Team India will have to let go of their Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who has certainly underperformed in the entire series. Hanuma Vihari, who last featured for India in the Australian tour, looks like a perfect replacement for Rahane. Rahane has scored a total of 624 runs at an average of 32.84 for India in 12 Tests. Vihari is a reliable batsman and he is always ready to go for a war for the Indian team. Suryakumar Yadav looks like another option who can make his Test debut if Kohli decides to shelve Rahane in the 5th Test.
2. Addition of R. Ashwin to the team
Ravichandran Ashwin’s absence from India’s playing XI in the entire series so far has been one of the most talking points of the tour. Indian skipper Virat Kohli went with 4 pacers and a spin-allrounder in all the four Tests so far. R. Ashwin has been left out of favor by Kohli and the Indian management for the reasons unknown. R. Ashwin was also spotted sitting alone in the stands during the 4th Test at Oval. Virat Kohli might want to add Ashwin in the 5th Test as a replacement to either Ravindra Jadeja or one of the pacers. R. Ashwin, who is regarded as one of the finest spinners of this generation, does not have a single wicket to his name at Manchester. Ashwin will be itching to get off the mark in his unbreached territory.
3. Rest Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammad Shami should replace the overused Jasprit Bumrah in the team. Shami missed the 4th Test due to a minor injury. However, the 31-year-old looks fit to play in the 5th Test. Bumrah deserves a break after his overpacked schedule in the past couple of months. India can also replace Bumrah for Ashwin in the playing XI. The addition of Ashwin hands Indian an extra pair of batting hands.
