For the first time as captain, Virat Kohli could go in with an unchanged XI as India face England in the fifth and final Test match of the series. With players already ruled out of the Chennai Test match and India performing so well in Mumbai, the skipper could name the same XI for the match, which is set to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium from Friday.
India have already clinched the series 3-0, after an innings victory over England at the Wankhede, and the home team's target will now be a categorical 4-0 series win. Doing that with the same XI looks to be the likely scenario, considering Mohammed Shami and Wriddhiman Saha are out.
Saha missed the last two Test matches with a thigh strain picked up in the second match of the series and the BCCI confirmed during the Mumbai game that the wicketkeeper would not feature in Chennai as well.
Shami was missed by India in the first innings of the match in Mumbai after pulling out with a knee problem, and considering his importance to the team, the fast bowler has been advised rest and will miss the fifth Test.
That means Parthiv Patel and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the men who replaced the two, should keep their place in the playing XI. Parthiv is certain to play as the wicketkeeper, and while Bhuvneshwar did not set the Mumbai Test on fire, he should stay on since the wicket at the Wankhede was not exactly helpful for the pacers.
Not that the Chennai wicket will provide too much encouragement for the fast bowlers, but with India's team balance settled, Bhuvneshwar, who could bring his swing into play if the overhead conditions are cloudy, should be in the lineup. The first option to replace Bhuvneshwar is Ishant Sharma, who is back with the squad after getting married, while there is also Shardul Thakur, who is expected to have to wait a little longer for his Test debut, unless Kohli feels Umesh Yadav could use a break.
The only other possible change is Manish Pandey coming in for Karun Nair. Karun failed to grab his opportunity in the Mumbai Test and if Kohli feels Pandey, who came in for the injured Ajinkya Rahane, is the better option, the right-hander might get a debut. Karun, though, will probably get another chance to try and make an impact in Test cricket.
England admitted they got their playing XI wrong in Mumbai, after Alastair Cook and Trevor Bayliss went in with three specialist fast bowlers. That meant Adil Rashid was the only proper spinner in the team along with Moeen Ali on a turning wicket, while Ben Stokes was underused.
Gareth Batty was not too impressive in the one Test match he played in Mohali, so Liam Dawson, who was brought in as a replacement for the injured Zafar Ansari, could make his Test debut. Dawson is more of a batting all-rounder, so it will also help England beef up their batting.
Dawson for James Anderson looks like the obvious change, with the latter ruled out of the fifth Test. There is the possibility of Chris Woakes or Jake Ball also missing out, if Stuart Broad is declared fit. Broad missed the last two Test matches with a foot injury, but Cook said a decision on the pacer will be taken later on Thursday.
Update: England win the toss, again, and will bat, again. Jayant Yadav is out with a hamstring niggle.
Confirmed playing XI: India: Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Karun Nair, Parthiv Patel, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.
England: Alastair Cook (C), Keaton Jennings, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jake Ball, Stuart Broad.
