England Vs India 2018, 4th Test: Five Players to Watch Out For

After the conclusion of the first three Tests, it is the time for all the eyes to look at The Rose Bowl venue. The in-form Indians are all set to take on the wounded hosts on August 30th. Meanwhile, we figured out five players to watch in the England vs India fourth Test in Southampton.

Here are the Top 5 players:

5. Ajinkya Rahane:

Yes, the deputy of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane has a lot of work to do in the Southampton Test. The classy stroke-maker has been excellent in the first innings of the Trent Bridge when he stitched an excellent partnership with the skipper Kohli.

There is something with Rahane for the Indian team. They always tasted fruitful results when Rahane performed with his willow. Once again, he will play a key role for India in the upcoming Test match.

Meanwhile, Rahane has got yet another record under his belt to walk out in the park confidently. Though India lost their game against England when they played in 2014, Rahane has exhibited decent performances at this venue.

He smashed the fifties in both the innings of the game facing the English stalwart bowlers on a green top in 2014. India would be hopeful of their vice-captain delivering the goods again.

4. James Anderson:

The senior campaigner in the England cricket team, James Anderson will be one of the key players to watch out in this game. He is very close in surpassing the legendary Glenn McGrath’s record of highest wickets by a fast bowler.

James Anderson is short of six wickets to the most exceptional record in the Test cricket. Currently, he bagged 557 wickets to his name and would be the centre of attraction when he takes the field at Southampton.

Adding yet another positivity to it, Anderson received the Man of the Match for his seven-wicket display against India at the very same venue when India toured England in 2014. He was breathtaking during his spell.

However, it would be interesting to see whether James Anderson will bag those remaining wickets to become the fourth highest leading wicket-taker in the Test cricketing world.

3. Hardik Pandya:

From receiving all the criticism to being the key player for India in the Test match, Hardik Pandya has just experienced the life of a cricketer in the span of just a couple of games. However, he is a happy soul now.

After failing to deliver in an initial couple of matches, Hardik Pandya gave a scintillating performance with the ball. He rattled English batting department with a stunning five-wicket haul in the span of six overs.

Apart from grabbing the wickets, Pandya also came good with his bat as well. He scored an unbeaten fifty in the second innings to stretch the target past 500. His performance certainly made India to dictate terms at Trent Bridge.

All in all, he will be one of the top five players to watch out for in the upcoming Test in Southampton. Hopefully, he will tick all the boxes against in the crucial Test at The Rose Bowl.

2. Joe Root:

The English skipper Joe Root hasn’t fared well enough for his side. The classy right-hander has been impressive in the first game, but yet to register a match-winning knock for England in the series.

Coming back with a century in the One-day International (ODI) series, English people have expected a lot from him. Unfortunately, Joe Root couldn’t deliver the goods for the team.

However, he has impressed with his captaincy in the first two games.

To clinch the series, it should be Root, who needs to step up for England at the Rose Bowl. Surprisingly, he found it difficult to play the swinging balls which were bread and butter for him.

However, Root will be on the radar as far as his batting is concerned. The England team management would hope their skipper come good especially, with a chance to bag the series.

England Vs India: Five players to watch out for at Ageas Bowl

1. Virat Kohli:

Can you move out your eyes from Virat Kohli when he is in action? He has become such a gem for India, and of course, he will once again hold the key for India when they lock horns against England at the Ageas Bowl.

The right-handed batsman is already the leading run-scorer in the series with an entirely of distance to the second position. India’s chances to win the game is also heavily dependent on Kohli’s performance as well.

Batting mainstay was in a great mood in the Edgbaston and Nottingham  Tests of the ongoing series, and hopefully, Kohli would deliver the goods for India at The Rose Bowl as well.

Kohli received the Man of the Match award in the previous game as well.

Apart from the batting, Kohli will also be on the radar for his captaincy. With the series at stake, it is essential for India to seal the game at any cost to be in the race to win the five-match Test series.

All in all, it would be interesting to see how Virat Kohli would approach the game on Thursday at Southampton.