India's probable XI for the 5th Test

The fourth Test is all over. England has won by 60 runs and India's batting has let them down again.

Post-tea, India lost their last six wickets for 58 runs. Chasing a tricky target of 245, India were always going to fall short. It was on the cards as it was the fourth day of the Test match and India was batting in the fourth innings.

India has never chased a target of 200 plus outside the sub-continent in the past three decades and today was no different.

India would now look to win the fifth Test and end the series on a high. A few changes are expected in the playing XI. So, let's take a look at the probable XI for India in the fifth Test.

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#1 Prithvi Shaw

KL Rahul has been out-of-form in the whole series and could be replaced by Shaw in the fifth Test. Prithvi Shaw is an exciting new talent for India. He is a batsman with a solid technique which is required in English conditions and could be given the opportunity to open for India.

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#2 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan is likely to retain his place in the XI. His left-handed batting brings an extra dimension to the Indian batting lineup. He hasn't had a great series so far and would like to score some runs in the last Test.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara

India skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday described Cheteshwar Pujara's 132 not out against England in the first innings of the fourth Test as the Saurashtra batsman's best innings that deserve to be at the top. He is likely to retain his place in the XI.

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#4 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been the best batsman in the series so far from either side. With 544 runs in the series - more than double of second highest run scorer Jos Buttler who has 260 runs Kohli is the lone hero for India.

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#5 Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane has looked good in the third and fourth Test but hasn't converted his fifties into match-winning hundreds. India will be looking at a strong performance from their vice-captain.

#6 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant hasn't batted as were the expectations from him and also his wicket-keeping is being criticised as he leaked few too many extras. He is young and this is the learning curve for him and he will grow out of it. He might be given another opportunity to prove himself.

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#7 Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya's tag of an all-rounder is yet to be proved in Test cricket. He is neither here nor there. His batting hasn't been good at all and he hasn't looked lethal with the ball. Only one or two good performances is not enough. He has a lot to look at in the fifth Test.

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#8 Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari

It came as a no surprise that the Indian selectors decided to bolster the batting depth and named Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari in the 18-man squad for the last two Tests against England. Vihari has been on a brilliant run of form and could make his Test debut in the fifth Test.

#9 Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami is the bowler who has looked to trouble the English batsmen in the series so far. Shami bowled very well in the fourth Test and will look to dominate in the fifth Test and take his team home.

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#10 Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma with his county experience has bowled pretty well in the series so far and he has been the workhorse in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He will look to lead the Indian pace attack and put up a strong performance.

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#11 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has bowled very well after his inclusion in the XI in the third Test. His unusual action, pace and the bounce which generates off the pitch gives him that X-factor. The wiry slinger’s action itself is awkward enough to put doubts in the mind of batsmen.