Leeds: A supremely confident India will look to tighten the noose around a struggling England when the two sides face off in the third Test beginning here Wednesday. Skipper Virat Kohli will also be expected to overcome his prolonged lean patch. If India win the game they will have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with two matches still to go.
Virat Kohli’s last international hundred came in November 2019. Though he has scored a couple of 40s in the series so far, the expectations have always been sky high from the modern great. However, he has looked a tad vulnerable around the off-stump in the first two Tests. One can expect him to present a tighter technique when the ball is pitched on the fourth stump at Headingley.
The form of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had also been a cause of concern for India. However, that has been put to rest after the experienced duo batted for almost 50 overs on day four of the Lord’s Test. They were responsible for taking the game to the final day before the Indian pacers scripted a famous win.
The performances of openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have been the biggest plus for India in the batting department. Both have showed remarkable temperament and technique in testing conditions to give the team a solid start.
Rishabh Pant will play the way he plays and Ravindra Jadeja has also done a decent job at No.7. It can be said that he is playing in the team more as a batsman than as a left-arm spinner. However, there is a possibility that Ravichandra Ashwin may be inducted into the team as he was given extended batting time at the nets.
With conditions expected to be cold and favourable for the pacers at Headingley, India are expected to retain the four-prong pace attack. Shardul Thakur is fully fit but it is unlikely that Kohli will make any changes in the pace attack which won India the game on day five at Lord’s.
Ishant Sharma, who had not played the opening Test, was really impressive at Lord’s and the hugely experienced pacer is likely to be preferred over Thakur, who is the lesser bowler compared to Ishant but the better batsman.
The potency of the world-class attack has been increased by Mohammad Siraj, who was sensational on day five and has impressed many with his relentless accuracy.
India last played here in 2002 when they registered a famous win by an innings and 46 runs. None of the current players have the experience of playing on this ground and it will be interesting to see how they adapt to the challenge.
England, on the other hand, will be hoping their batting woes will subside with the inclusion of white-ball specialist Dawid Malan. He last played a Test three years ago but is expected to deliver considering his rich first-class experience.
The southpaw will bat at No.3, moving Haseeb Hameed up the order to open alongside Rory Burns. England batsmen have to find a way to score and help skipper Joe Root, who has made of the bulk of the team’s runs so far.
Ahead of the game, Root confirmed that barring Wood, the team is not facing any fitness issues with lead pacer James Anderson also in good shape.
Root has also hinted that his players will not be drawn into needless exchanges with the opposition players after things got heated up at Lord’s with India getting more out of the verbal battles.
