Virat Kohli on India’s Playing XI for the fourth Test

Virat Kohli on India’s Playing XI for the fourth Test: The Indian captain confirms the Playing XI for the fourth Test during a press conference.

Shutting down all the anticipations ahead of the all-important fourth Test between England and India at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, Indian captain Virat Kohli confirmed that they will field the same Playing XI in the fourth Test, thereby not tinkering with a winning combination.

Carrying on with the winning momentum has not been Kohli’s cup of tea since he has been named the captain of the Indian team. Being given the role in 2014 (against Australia at Adelaide), Kohli has till now captained India in 38 Tests.

What has come as an intriguing facet of his captaincy is the fact that he hasn’t ever fielded the same playing eleven in consecutive Test matches. Injuries, indifferent form of his players and most importantly, his gut feeling, have been the major contributors towards the same.

Having won the last Test against England by 203 runs at Southampton, perhaps the team management have realized that winning momentum can see India through in the next match. Other than Kohli’s tendency to chop and change, a niggle to Ravichandran Ashwin had made his place in the playing eleven in jeopardy. However, with this announcement, it is understood that the 31-year old spinner has regained full fitness.

On the other hand, England have made two changes to their playing eleven, bringing in Moeen Ali and Sam Curran in place of Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes. The inclusion of Ali means that England will field two (Ali and Adil Rashid) genuine spin-bowling options tomorrow.

Curran has contributed with both the bat and ball in this series. The presence of an in-form all-rounder like him can do wonders for the hosts. Speaking of the players who have been left out by England, Pope had failed to make a mark in his first two Test matches. Moreover, a niggle to Ben Stokes pursuaded England to field another all-rounder in Ali. Woakes’ exclusion was more because of a fitness concern.

India Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah.

England Playing XI: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root (c), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Watch captain Kohli answering the press: