The five-Test match series between India and England is delicately poised at the moment. After losing the first two Tests, India registered an emphatic 203-run victory at Nottingham in the third Test to make it 2-1.
With two Tests still remaining and an Indian team on the charge, one can expect an exhilarating contest in the next couple of weeks. However, looking at the way things are shaping up, it feels that suddenly India has the upper hand and England, despite being 2-1 up, has more worries to sort out than the visitors.
While the England bowlers have been good, it is their batting that has been a real disappointment. Their top order has not been able to contribute much and has repeatedly fallen apart. The likes of Alastair Cook, captain Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Keaton Jennings and Dawid Malan have all failed to make decent contributions towards the team's cause.
What's worse is that Jonny Bairstow, their most successful batsman in the series, is struggling with injury and may not be fully fit for the fourth Test.
With the batting order struggling to put up runs and with their two main batsmen, Cook and Root, out of form, England has some major issues to deal with before they go into the next match. They have made a habit out of those batting collapses of late and it is costing them dearly.
In their bowling department, James Anderson is leading the charge and the others have given him good company. It remains to be seen if the English bowling unit can continue their form in the remaining two Tests despite their batting unit's failure.
India, meanwhile, suddenly appears to be ticking all boxes. Led by an in-form captain Virat Kohli, the batting unit is finally finding its feet and giving the bowlers enough runs to bowl at. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane finally scored runs in the third Test which augurs well for the team and KL Rahul felt to be in good touch too. It must also have been heartening for Kohli to see Hardik Pandya providing power down the order.
India's bowling has been a revelation in this series. Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Hardik Pandya and now Jasprit Bumrah have all contributed well at different points in the series. Bumrah, especially, with his fiery spell in the Nottingham Test, has shown that now India has a pace attack that can push the opposition and take 20 wickets in a Test abroad.
What's more notable is that Team India has shown tremendous gumption to come back from the brink of being disintegrated to win a match and show that they are no pushovers.
The fourth Test at Southampton hence looks all set to be a humdinger. The home team will try to get their act together and seal the series. The visitors, meanwhile, would like to continue their charge and strike another blow. Interesting times lie ahead.
