England vs India 2018: Five Players to Watch Out at the Oval

Team India led by the talismanic Virat Kohli will square off against England in a dead rubber commencing on September 7 (Friday) at the Kennington Oval.

Meanwhile, England had already wrapped up the five-match Test series 3-1. They defeated the visitors by 60 runs in Southampton to seal the much-anticipated series.

However, India will play for pride to finish the series on a winning note. So far, they have struggled to put up a good show on a consistent basis, as they continued their poor run in the overseas conditions. The team from the subcontinent, however, will look to put up an improved effort from the last Test.

On the other hand, this will be the last Test for the England opener, Alastair Cook, who aims to finish his international career with some runs under his belt. Joe Root & Co will look to rattle India and continue their winning run in the last Test.

Here are the five players to watch out in the last Test match between England and India at the Kennington Oval –

VIRAT KOHLI

Virat Kohli has been the standalone performer for India with the bat. He is currently the highest run-scorer in the series with runs including two hundred.

The number one Test batsman has improved immensely since his last tour to England in 2014. He managed to score only 134 runs in ten innings, as James Anderson tested him with the fourth stump line. However, he looked more potent and confident this time dominating the English bowling line.

The battle between the India skipper and Anderson has been one of the hot debates throughout this series, and Kohli has certainly taken the upper hand. The veteran English fast bowler has managed to beat Kohli a couple of times but is yet to get the most prized wicket of him.

Virat Kohli will look to continue his rich form and the finish the series on a high leading the team from the front.

ALASTAIR COOK

The highest run-getter for England in Tests, Alastair Cook will look to finish his career on top after a lean patch in this ongoing series. He is the highest scorer for England with 12,254 Test runs and 32 Test centuries so far in 160 Tests.

JASPRIT BUMRAH

Jasprit Bumrah had led the Indian bowling attack since he had returned to the side in the third Test at Trent Bridge. He bagged a five-wicket haul in the second innings at Trent Bridge, as India beat the host by 203 runs.

He backed it up with another stellar performance in Southampton although India lost the Test to lose the series. So far, Bumrah has picked 11 wickets in the two Tests he has featured.

Virat Kohli & Co will want Bumrah to be in his prime to finish the series on a positive note.

MOEEN ALI

The England all-rounder missed the first two Tests and eventually left out of the third Test from the squad. However, he returned with a bang in Southampton to bag the man of the match award.

Moeen Ali continued his domestic form in the fourth Test to rattle the Indian batting order with nine wickets including a five-for in the first essay. He also chipped in with the bat in the first essay contributing with useful 40 runs, as England managed to post 246 runs.

The 31-year-old Moeen will be keen to continue his excellent form at the Kennington Oval to seal his spot in the five-day format of the game.

CHETESHWAR PUJARA

Cheteshwar Pujara is the backbone of the Indian batting order, and the Indian team will rely on him to finish the five-match Test series on a winning note.

Pujara was left of out the first Test at Birmingham to accommodate KL Rahul in the first XI, however, brought him back at Lord’s.

After struggling in the second Test, he started to hit form at Trent Bridge where he played a useful 72-run knock. Pujara backed it his rich vein of form with an unbeaten 132 in the first essay in Southampton. However, India lost the match by 60 runs to lose the series 3-1 against England.

The Saurashtra-born cricketer will look to play another important knock for his side to finish the Test at 3-2.