India have won the series but would like to bag more World Test Championship points and England will also have one eye on the ICC tournament table.
India v England – Fifth Test
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium
7 March – 11 March 2024
Both sides will name new Test centurions in their starting XIs with Jonny Bairstow and Ravichandran Ashwin set to join the elite club.
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala has hosted just one previous Test which India won fairly comfortably.
It has been reported that the groundskeeper has given India their pick of tracks to play on which could make for a spin-friendly Test match.
To Win Match
India 8/13 | Draw 21/5 | England 29/10
Ashwin stands on the brink of history with several records in his grasp as he crosses the 100-Test mark.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been the standout batter for Inda throughout the series and holds a big lead at the top of the run-scoring charts.
Shubman Gill has also been in decent touch and India will want to see him continue to get among the runs.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin are locked together on 17 wickets each and both would like to end this series as India’s top bowler.
Bairstow comes into this match not without concern even as he prepares to mark his 100th Test with his series contributions on the slim side.
Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley have been England’s best source of runs and played spin better than many of their teammates. They will be crucial to the England cause again.
England has some fast bowling decisions to make, especially given how this pitch will likely take a lot of turn and not offer much to the quicks.
That makes Tom Hartley and the other spinners in the Enbland camp the key players in the coming Test.
Verdict: India 8/13
India should hold a decisive edge and are tipped to claim a 4-1 series victory.
