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The Indian team has finally found their golden touch back after thumping England to a massive 203 run victory. India is currently trailing by 2-1 in the 5 match Test series. This victory has proved to be a major uplift for the team and has also boosted the morale of the cricketers.
The Indian cricket team brought back Shikhar Dhawan and Jasprit Bumrah for the third Test and also gave Rishabh Pant his first Test cap. Moreover, these changes in the line-up did the trick for India in the third Test.
Now, let us have a look at the cricketers who can make it to the squad for the 4th Test.
#1. Openers
Shikhar Dhawan has found a new lease of life after he managed to successfully counter the England bowling attack in the third Test. Dhawan's Test career stood on the brink and time was running out for him to prove his worth as an opener in Tests. However, he has successfully overcome it by scoring 35 and 44 in the two innings respectively.
Dhawan's patience at the crease played a major role in the 3rd Test match. With Dhawan back to form, we can surely expect him to retain his place in the squad for the 4th Test.
KL Rahul's change in batting technique and a stronger mentality made the difference for him in the third Test. He perfectly assisted Dhawan and they both managed to score a minimum of 60 runs for the opening partnership in both the innings.
As Rahul has shown better application and managed to get going, he should make it to the squad for the fourth Test.
#2. Middle-Order
Cheteshwar Pujara's low run on confidence has come to an end after a brilliant knock of 72 runs in the second innings. In a rare scenario, Pujara got out in the first innings by playing a pull shot and getting caught by Adil Rashid near the ropes.
However, Pujara worked on his weakness and showed more mental toughness in the second innings which brought out the best in him. With Pujara back to his normal best, he will look to repeat his heroics in the 4th Test.
Virat Kohli has been the backbone of the Indian batting team this series. Time and again, his consistency has been remarkable and his flawless batting has made him the greatest batsman of this century.
In the first innings, he fell 3 runs short of a century but compensated for it in the second innings by playing a blistering knock of 103. He currently stands as the top run-getter in the series with more than 400 runs.
He will look to guide the Indian team to yet another victory in the 4th Test match.
Ajinkya Rahane's place in the Test side was under a cloud of uncertainty as he managed only 48 runs in the first two Test matches, scoring fewer runs than what Ravichandran Ashwin scored.
In what could be called as his career-deciding Test, Rahane had to notch up a good knock to be in the reckoning again. He didn't disappoint and played a vital knock of 81 in the first innings which massively boosted India's total.
Rahane is back in his top form, and the vintage Rahane can cause some serious dents in the English bowling lineup in the upcoming Test match.
#3. Wicket-keeper
Rishabh Pant managed to put on a decent performance behind the stumps and with the bat after he replaced the out-of-form Dinesh Karthik. Rishabh Pant scored a total of 26 runs in the Test match.
Rishabh Pant also made it to the record books after he became the first Indian wicket-keeper and the 5th wicket-keeper in Test history to take five catches in an innings on Test debut. As he has been excellent with his glovework, Pant has secured his spot in the XI for the upcoming Test.
#4. All-Rounders
Hardik Pandya has replied to his critics by putting on a match-winning performance for the Indian team. He made valuable contributions with the bat and the ball. Before the third Test, he was under scrutiny for not displaying all-round performances that could fetch India a victory.
In a matter of 6 overs, he changed the course of the game by taking figures of 6-1-28-5. Pandya also did the talking with the bat by playing a quickfire cameo of 52* runs in the second innings which boosted India's total.
With such scintillating performances, Pandya can easily become India's go-to all-rounder in all formats of the game.
#5. Spinner
Ravindra Jadeja might make it to the XI for the first time against England in this series. He could take up the place of Ravichandran Ashwin, as Ashwin suffered a hip problem and also had an ankle sprain.
Ashwin went off the field in the first innings and he never managed to pose a threat to the batsman in second innings due to his injury. As Jadeja would be a like-to-like replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin, he could be drafted into the playing XI.
#6. Fast Bowlers
Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian pacer couldn't have asked for a better comeback to the side after recovering from an injury. Bumrah single-handedly scripted India's victory with figures of 29-8-85-5 in the second innings.
The batsman had no clue about Bumrah's line and lengths and fell prey to his inswingers. With the form he is in right now, Bumrah would look to ride on his great form for the next match too.
Umesh Yadav might be drafted in the squad for the fourth test to replace Mohammad Shami as the pitch in Southampton is tailor-made for his bouncers and his lethal out-swingers.
Moreover, Shami did not justify his place in the squad. He did manage only two wickets in the entire match.
Ishant Sharma has grown on to become one of India's finest Test bowlers. Despite not taking many wickets, he has always posed threat to the batsmen and has unsettled the batters at the crease.
Ishant Sharma scalped the important wickets of openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings in the second innings which proved to be one of the defining moments of the game. With the speed he generates in his bowling, he will always pose a threat to the batsmen. He is a certainty in the playing XI for the next Test match.
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