India has the chance to secure a series victory against England in the third test in Ranchi, with a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
However, they will be without their pace spearheads, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested to manage his workload. Mohammed Shami’s absence due to an ankle injury adds to the challenges, placing the responsibility on Mohammed Siraj to lead India’s pace attack, with Akash Deep expected to make his Test debut as the second seamer.
Ollie Robinson and Shoaib Bashir are set to join the England team.
Despite the absence of key players, India remains confident, especially with a spin-heavy attack likely on a pitch showing cracks at both ends. The team’s strong home record, undefeated in a test series on home soil since 2012, adds to their assurance.
KL Rahul’s continued unavailability due to a thigh injury is a setback, but the debut performances of Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel in Rajkot provide optimism. Sarfaraz Khan’s twin fifties and Dhruv Jurel’s fluent 46 showcase the potential of the young players, and India’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour, expressed confidence in the smartness of the youngsters, emphasizing the strength of India’s domestic cricket in producing quality players.
On the England side, captain Ben Stokes, expected to resume bowling after knee surgery, downplayed concerns about the pitch, mentioning variations in appearance from the changing rooms to the actual playing area.
The conditions, described as dark and crumbly with noticeable cracks, could pose challenges for both teams.
In summary, India aims for a series victory in the absence of key players, relying on young talents to step up, while England, led by Ben Stokes, faces the challenge of adapting to the conditions in Ranchi.
