India vs England 5th Test Preview: India face an uphill task to save the series

It was all rosy for the Indian team after the historic win at the Lord’s in the 2nd Test. But all the promise from Lord’s win has withered away with two crushing defeats at Southampton and Old Trafford. Battered and bruised, India head into the final Test at the Oval against England low on confidence and morale and under intense pressure.

India’s batting has become a huge problem with all the top-order batsmen seem to lose their form at the same time. The top order has collapsed time and again without offering any sort of resistance. India’s best batting talents, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara have failed miserably in this series while India’s best batsmen in the England tour Ajinkya Rahane also looked out of sorts in the last test. Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir returned at Manchester but failed to make a mark but, it is likely that he would again open the batting with Murali Vijay. It is imperative that India needs a much improved show from their batting line-up in order to have any chance of winning this test and squaring up the series.

Similarly, India’s bowling has not looked threatening enough to take 20 wickets. However, India have got a big boost with 2nd Test hero, Ishant Sharma being fit for the final game. Ishant Sharma has missed both India’s 266-run defeat in the third Test at Southampton and an innings and 54-run loss in the fourth Test at Old Trafford last week with a leg injury and his return will certainly make the bowling stronger.

As for England, everything seems to have fallen in piece for them at the right time. With the exception of opener Sam Robson, every other batsman has picked up his form and the batting line-up looks pretty impressive. Their bowling has been superb in the last two tests and in all likelihood England should retain the same side that won at Old Trafford provided Stuart Broad, who suffered a broken nose at Old Trafford, is fit to play.

All in all, we can expect a cracking match as India go all out to win this test and salvage the series.