India is gearing up for a crucial fourth Test against England in Manchester, aiming to level the five-match series after falling behind 2-1.
Series at a Glance
The highly anticipated Anderson-Tendulkar series has delivered exciting cricket so far. England took an early lead, winning the opening Test at Headingley by five wickets.
India quickly bounced back, securing a dominant 336-run victory in the second Test at Edgbaston, bringing the series to a tie. However, England regained their advantage with a narrow 22-run win in the third Test at Lord’s, setting the stage for a decisive clash.
Team India’s Injury Woes
The road ahead looks challenging for Team India, as they face a string of forced changes due to injuries. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out for the remainder of the series.
Adding to their concerns, pacer Arshdeep Singh will also miss the Manchester Test. Young quick Akash Deep is another casualty, sidelined with a groin issue, leaving India with significant bowling gaps to fill.
England’s Line-up
Meanwhile, Ben Stokes’ England side has announced their playing XI with just one change. Liam Dawson steps in for Shoaib Bashir, who suffered a finger injury in the third Test and is out of the series.
All You Need to Know: Match Details
The fourth Test between England and India is set to unfold at Old Trafford in Manchester. The match will run from July 23 to 27.
Play is scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM IST each day, with the toss taking place at 3:00 PM IST.
Where to Watch?
Cricket fans in India can catch all the live action on the JioHotstar app and website for streaming. For television viewers, the match will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network.
Manchester Weather and Pitch Report
Manchester is expected to be cooler than London, with rain predicted throughout the five days of the Test from July 23 to 27. Temperatures are forecast to range between 14 and 23 degrees Celsius.
Historically, Old Trafford pitches were known for their pace and bounce. While it has become slower in recent years, the forecasted rain could bring the pacers back into contention, offering assistance from the conditions.
Predicted Playing XIs
Here’s a look at the likely teams for the crucial encounter:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav/Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Anshul Kamboj.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.
Key Takeaways
- India trails 2-1 in the series and needs a win to stay alive.
- Team India is grappling with multiple key injuries, impacting their bowling attack.
- Manchester weather forecasts indicate cooler temperatures and potential rain.
- Old Trafford’s pitch might favor pacers, especially with rain around.
