It was a day for records on day four of the fifth Test match, with India going on to post their highest ever score as England reeled under the heat of Chennai. Karun Nair might have been the man of the moment on Monday, but India will need their bowlers to take the plaudits on the final day of the Test match if they are to finish the series 4-0.
Having piled on the runs and taken a first innings lead of 282, India now need to find a way to manufacture ten England wickets on day five. Even with the talented bowlers at their disposal, that is going to be a difficult prospect, considering just how flat the pitch is at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
There is turn, but it is extremely slow; there is the odd ball that grips, bounces and turns sharply, but that is very much the exception; there is a bit of bounce for the pace bowlers, but nothing too drastic for the England batsmen to be worried about. The only way India will break through England on day five will be by creating pressure and breaking England's resolve mentally.
That is possible, considering the trials and tribulations the England team had to suffer through on day four when Karun Nair struck a triple century and India declared after scoring 759. Alastair Cook and the rest of the England team will probably have half their minds on the flight back home, but they cannot afford to let that weary feeling to overcome them on the final day.
The India bowlers will, without doubt, apply pressure with over after over of tight bowling, and with an England win out of the question now, all the away side can do is try and survive, something which isn't easy, even when the pitch is so flat.
The onus will be on the captain Alastair Cook and vice-captain Joe Root to lead from the front. If those two bat for the majority of the day – assuming of course Root is even needed, with Keaton Jennings looking quite comfortable in the middle during the five-over stay on day four – England will draw this Test match; if they don't, there could be some late drama.
Where to Watch Live
The final day is set to begin at 9.30am IST (4am GMT, 11pm ET).
India: TV: Star Sports 1, Star Sports HD1, Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD3. Live Streaming: Hotstar.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 2. Live Streaming: Watch Sky Sports.
South Africa: TV: SuperSport. Live Streaming: SuperSport Online.
Middle East: TV: OSN Sports Cricket. Live Streaming: OSN Cricket Live.
Canada and USA: TV: Willow TV. Live Streaming: Willow TV Online.
New Zealand: TV: Sky Sport. Live Streaming: Sky Go NZ.
Australia: TV: Fox Sports. Live Streaming: Foxtel.
