In the fifth and final Test between India and England at Dharamsala’s Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium on Thursday, March 7, 2024, England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat first. The series has already been claimed by India with a 3-1 lead. Notably, it marks the 100th Test match for Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin and England batter Jonny Bairstow.
Despite the series outcome already determined, the match holds significance as valuable ICC World Test Championship points are still up for grabs. For England, led by skipper Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, this game becomes an opportunity to salvage pride after losing their first series under this leadership.
The contest also marks the 100th Test for both Ravichandran Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow, adding a special touch to the occasion. In terms of team changes, England brings in Mark Wood into their playing eleven, while for India, Jasprit Bumrah replaces Akash Deep in the lineup. The match is expected to be a compelling battle, with players on both sides eager to make their mark and secure crucial points in the World Test Championship. Cricket enthusiasts are in for an exciting encounter as the two teams vie for success in the final Test of the series.
Batter Rajat Patidar will miss the Test after being hit in the ankle during practice and Devdutt Padikkal will be making his Test debut. During the toss, England skipper Stokes stated, “We are going to have a bat. You probably have a bat looking at this pitch. It is another opportunity to represent our country. Great experience for the boys to be part of this series and they have showed great character in their fight. Amazing (Bairstow playing his 100th Test)! Jonny is one of our best-ever all-format players. 100 Test caps show his commitment. Nice moment a few minutes ago when he got the cap with his family around. One change for us. Mark Wood comes in.”
Skipper Rohit also stated during the toss, “We would have batted first as well. We have done really well so far in this series and an opportunity to finish on a high. There should be a better bounce on this pitch than in the games before in this series. Good pitch to bat on and I don’t think it will deteriorate that much. Ash has been a real stalwart of Indian cricket. Such a proud moment for him, his nation and his family. We will be rooting for him to do the magic. Bumrah is back, and Akash Deep misses out. Devdutt Padikkal makes his debut as Patidar got injured last evening.”
England (Playing XI):
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes(c), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes(w), Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, Mark Wood, James Anderson
India (Playing XI):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
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