With the series over as a contest, India will look to rub salt into England's gaping wounds when the two teams assemble in Chennai for the final Test match. England will want to salvage something resembling pride, while India will, no doubt, target another comprehensive victory in the fifth Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Here are a few of the things to expect and look forward to from this fifth Test match:
R Ashwin and Murali Vijay at home: Ashwin showed why he is the best bowler in the world with 12 wickets in Mumbai. With the wicket in Chennai expected to aid the spinners as well, be that with the extra moisture or the slow, dry, turning nature of the pitch, Ashwin, who will be desperate to put on a show for his hometown crowd, will again be a key factor for India, and the England batsmen will not be looking forward to playing the off-spinner.
Vijay scored a century in Mumbai to put those form and short ball worries to rest and the India opener will want to carry that form into Chennai as well by putting on another three-figure score.
Could this be Alastair Cook's last Test as captain? Quite possible, with all the pressure on the left-hander. Cook has not been at his batting best and his captaincy has left a lot to be desired in this series. With Joe Root ready to take over, according to the current skipper himself, this very well could be Cook's last Test as England captain.
Virat Kohli vs James Anderson not to happen: Kohli showed just how mature a cricketer he has become in the manner in which he reacted to Anderson's comments about the India captain. Kohli was the peacemaker when R Ashwin made it clear to the England bowler what he felt about his "Kohli has not improved" comments. However, there would have been a sense of "OK, let me show you just how good I am" for Kohli had he faced Anderson in the fifth Test. But, the England fast bowler has now been ruled out through injury.
But a bit of Ben Stokes is possible: The Kohli vs Stokes contest took a backseat in Mumbai, but with England desperate for a face-saving win that rivalry could come to the fore again. With England likely to go with the extra spinner or batting all-rounder, Stokes is likely to get more of a bowl in Chennai and it will be interesting to see how the contest against Kohli transpires.
Weather conditions: The major worry going into this Test match is the weather. With Cyclone Vardah devastating the city, the people in Chennai really could use a nice cricket match to help put those worries behind. Hopefully, the weather will stay away long enough to get a full Test match in.
