Ind vs Eng: Fourth Test begins, Mohammad Siraj gets a chance; England's bad start
Opportunity for Mohammad Siraj to replace Jaspreet Bumra
The fourth and final Test between India and England has started at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. England won the toss and elected to bat, but had a poor start. England lost three wickets in the first session. For the first time, spinner Akshar Patel pushed both England openers into the tent. In the second ball of the first over, England opener Dominic Sibley was tripped by Akshar. He scored just two runs, followed by another opener, Jack Crowley, who was caught by Mohammad Siraj. Crowley scored 9 runs. Then there was Johnny Bairstow and England captain Joe Root. But Mohammad Siraj gave England a third wicket by trapping skipper Joe Root for five. At present, three England players have returned for 56 runs.
India have replaced fast bowler Jaspreet Bumrah with Mohammad Siraj in the match. England, meanwhile, have fielded three bowlers, with Joffra Archer and Stuart Broad missing. England have included Daniel Lawrence in the squad to strengthen their batting, while spinner Dominic Bess has also been given a chance in the final Test. England's bowling load in this match will be on James Anderson, Bess and Leach. Moreover, all-rounder Ben Stokes will also be seen bowling.
India, meanwhile, will be aiming to reach the final of the World Test at Lord's rather than win the series against England by dominating the spin power in the fourth Test starting on Thursday on a Motera-friendly pitch. The Virat Kohli-led Indian team currently has a 2-1 lead and needs to keep the final Test to a draw to beat New Zealand for the World Cup title. If India loses this match, Australia will qualify directly for the final.
While maintaining a draw is a safe option, the aggressive Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri do not approve of the defensive option at all. Playing with a pink ball in the third Test at Motera, India lost to England in two days. They can maintain their prestige if England wins the last match of the series, but it will be disgraceful if India loses.
Kohli's leadership faltered
In the fourth Test, Kohli's lead is on the decline. Kohli, India's most successful Test captain, has also acknowledged that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a successful captain in the International Cricket Council (ICC). Therefore, winning the ICC Test title would be the first success under Kohli's leadership. Kohli has scored his last century against Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2019. He has since been dismissed for a century in 11 innings. He has also scored two fifties in the current series. If he scores another century, he will be able to overtake Ricky Potting (41) as captain.
Union
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Mohammad Siraj and Ishant Sharma.
England: Joe Root (captain), Dominic Sibley, Jack Crowley, Johnny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Oli Pope, De Lawrence, Ben Fox, Dominic Bess, Jack Leach, and James Anderson