India vs England, 5th Test: Expected lineups, head-to-head, predictions, and betting odds
India and England are set to lock horns in the fifth and final Test of the series which will take place at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The match is slated to begin on Thursday, March 7.
With the series already in the pocket, the hosts will be determined to stretch their lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 points table.
India, with five wins, two losses, and one draw, have a points percentage of 64.58% (62 points out of a possible 96). A win will see them end the series with a scoreline of 4-1 and a points percentage of 68.52%.
The match marks a special occasion for both sides, as Ravichandran Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow are set to play their 100th Test.
With that in mind, The Sporting News takes a look at the expected lineups, head-to-head records, predictions, and betting odds.
India vs England, 5th Test: Predicted lineups
Predicted XI for India: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
Predicted XI for England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (WK), Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, Mark Wood, James Anderson
India vs England: Head-to-head record in Tests
India and England have contested in 135 Tests so far. The visitors have a superior record over India, winning 51 Tests compared to India's 34.
India vs England, 5th Test: Toss
Given that there is a huge probability of rainfall and/or snowfall during the first two days, and a chance that temperatures might drop to as low as six degrees Celsius, the side that wins the toss first will certainly opt to bowl first to maximise the bowler-conducive conditions.
India vs England: Prediction for 5th Test
England's 'Bazball' effect was in full flow in the first Test in Hyderabad, helping ben Stokes and Co. win the match by 28 runs.
Since then, an inexperienced Indian team with Rohit Sharma leading the troops have made an impressive comeback in the series, winning three consecutive Tests to put the series to bed.
The outcome of the Dharamsala Test, though, will be tougher to predict because of the unusual weather conditions, but the return of Jasprit Bumrah will immensely bolster the already impressive Indian unit.
India are the team that is likelier to produce a result in their favour, given the form that the players find themselves in. Winning three Tests will have boosted the confidence further, while losing the series already will given the Englishmen a psychological disadvantage.
While one could argue that they have nothing to lose in the series, they actually have a lot to gain from a win from a WTC points table POV.
India vs England, 5th Test: Betting odds
According to odds on Dafabet, India are the favourites to win the fifth Test in Dharamsala to finish the series with a 4-1 scoreline.
