[pandey.jai]

So no follow on enforced. England will bat and try and set a target of 400 plus? We’ve seen that India can just about bat 1 day. So if England declare close to tea, then they have more than enough time to bowl India out, especially on a 5th day wicket.

Edit- On a lighter note, i think India should let Washington Sundar open with Gill in the second innings. He can’t be worse than our Sharmaji, who can score some runs against an older ball.

[KPR]

If Axar isn't fit for next game then I would bet on Krunal Pandya (not in the squad but) than Nadeem. How good Krunal can spin? Will he able to do it given Indian spin pitch ? But what Krunal has is the lion heart that he puts for the game and team.

[Eddy]

I fear for Bumrah. He is returning from injury and was definitely overbowled in the first innings. His workload needs careful monitoring.

If Nadeem is dropped the only person who should replace him is Kuldeep. Else he should be dropped from the squad altogether to play the Vijay Hazare trophy.

[KPR]

Now more than Kuldeep's spin what is adding insult to his wound will be his very poor batting. I fear Kuldeep's spin exploits have been overlooked and team management has felt Nadeem as a vis-a-vis replacement. Gone are the days where a good spinner needn't bat and also Kuldeep hasn't got that sort of impact in bowling department in recent time to overlook his batting. Nadeem/Kuldeep too must put price on their wicket while batting.

[Eddy]

Kuldeep is a much better bat than Nadeem. And since Nadeem has not been able to show control (as per the first innings), he may be droppped and Kuldeep should play.

[NPV]

England have a lead of 305 already, what would the target they'd consider safe - 400 or 425 ? But time's running out as well.

India had chased down 385 against them on an earlier occasion, but this time I think it will be a draw or an England win if India collapse in the second essay (if the batting is anything like the first innings).

[SoumenD]

Thanks to last few performances by India , England would be a little cautious on last day and hopefully that leads to them setting up a defensive field. They know players like Gill, Pant and Sundar aren't the ones playing only for draw. Had this been a few years back only two results were a possiblity, either India looses or somehow manages to draw. But now India winning also is not entirely out of the equation. Love this new found aggressiveness.

We surely are missing Sir Jadeja. But with Sundar and Ashwin do we really need another specialist spinner? Can't a Thakur/Pandya be brought in since both the spinners are a decent bat already? Sundar actually is playing like a specialist batsman. His technique and poise looks so sorted.

As for the current match our walking wicket Sharma-ji as expected didn't bother the scorers. Hopefully one of Kohli and Rahane go on to play a respectable knock. Gill would surely look forward to get that elusive test century but looking at the wicket's behavior last day would be a bit tough to bat. Ishant rightly mentioned in an interview : "We felt like playing on a 'ROAD' the first couple of days but now it seems to be doing a bit".

[NPV]

This chase (for a win) won't be easy since the pitch has started deteriorating and there could be unpredictable turn and bounce.
I think a draw will be a good result for India, but then the recent win in Australia may play on their minds and I hope they don't get overconfident and end up losing

Is Rohit Sharma really worth having in the test playing eleven in the current situation when we have some other options in our bench strength ? He seems to throw away his wicket just when he starts playing well and settling down!

[padmrajravi]

A win from this position is very tough. Draw or England win is the most likely result.Rohit sharma seems to play only when the ball does nothing. A bit of swing or spin and he is already walking back to the pavillion. Atleast two among Kohli, Pujara and Rahane will need to play a matured innings tomorrow for us to draw this.

I don't think our three 22 year olds can play for a draw though. Gill, Pant and Sundar only knows how to play for a win and they will probably be thinking about chasing this down. I hope they don't get too carried away and lose the test trying to win.

[harry10]

India need 381 more at 4.23 per over. Don't see that happening with England opting for defensive fields right from the start today. 540 balls to negotiate tomorrow. Pujara needs to face atleast 200 of these and rest need to bat around him for us to draw this out.

[avingodb]

Rohit Sharma again proves that he is not a test material, plays a few glory shots, and then a planted foot to a spinner. Given his age, India should invest in another opener and maybe help Shaw correct his flaws and trust him a bit more.

[pandey.jai]

I don’t know what Rohit Sharma brings to the team in test matches. He doesn’t bat, bowl or field well and isn’t a talented 20 year old youngster who needs to be given a long chance. His time in tests is up and sooner the team management sees this, the better.
In T20 and ODIs, he’s still a monster and should be the first name on the team sheet.

[redCherry]

As far as his test match performance/potential is concerned, the writing is on the wall for every one to see it. It just that people that matter just choose not to see it .
Looks like no one wants to talk about the white elephant in the room, even when there are few other openers warming the bench waiting for their oppurtunity to play.

Originally Posted by pandey.jai

I don’t know what Rohit Sharma brings to the team in test matches.

[landcruiser123]

It is going to be a very tough day 5 in terms of drawing/winning. I can only hope for a good long partnership between Gill-Pujara and/or Pujara-Kohli to build a platform for Pant. I really hope we can see a win which will extend the most incredible period in Indian test cricket.

I really don't know why Nadeem was picked ahead of Kuldeep. I'm a big fan of Nadeem and mean no disrespect, but I think Kuldeep would have added more variety on this pitch.

Rohit needs to be let off. I think India should pick Rahul if he can sacrifice T20s for a county cricket season to prove himself. Also, I hope Shaw is working on his technique while on the sidelines. He's certainly a talented 21 year old who can definitely be the next big thing in Indian cricket.

[NPV]

Pujara out and now Gill seems to be taking his chances, got to his 50. This seems like the strategy used in the Gabba test. Gill will play positive trying to chase down the target and if quick wickets fall, then they will try to draw the game ? Fingers crossed, don't want to see a first test loss. Kohli and Rahane will be key.
*Just as I type this, Gill's off stump sent cartwheeling by Jimmy Anderson!

India 92/3

Looks like Rahane is out LBW ? DRS taken by England. Umpire's call saved Rahane but he's bowled next ball!

92/4

Anderson is on fire, this doesn't look like it will end on a positive note for India. Kohli may end up being the lone unbeaten fighter!