The fourth Test between England and India commenced today at Old Trafford, with England leading the five-match series 2-1. After winning the toss, England captain Ben Stokes elected to field first.
India has made three changes to their playing XI. Anshul Kamboj is making his Test debut, replacing the injured Akash Deep. Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur have also returned to the XI, with Karun Nair missing out. England has made one change, bringing in Liam Dawson for the injured Shoaib Bashir. The 35-year-old Dawson, who hasn't played a Test since 2017, strengthens the batting lineup and provides a left-arm spin option.
India faces a must-win situation at Old Trafford, a venue where they have never won a Test match, having lost four and drawn five of their nine matches there. The absence of Nitish Kumar Reddy, due to a knee injury, has forced India to rethink their strategy of playing three all-rounders.
The weather in Manchester could play a significant role in the match, with rain expected later in the day. The forecast suggests that rain is likely to interrupt play from 3:00 PM IST onwards. Old Trafford has historically favored spinners as the match progresses, potentially making Dawson a key player for England in the later stages.
In the previous Test at Lord's, England secured a narrow 22-run victory, giving them the series lead. India captain Shubman Gill criticized England's tactics at the end of the third Test, accusing them of acting against the "spirit of cricket". Gill was referring to Zak Crawley's repeated delays late in the day.
