The final day of the fourth Test in Mumbai looks to be a mere formality as India look to pick up the four wickets required for an unassailable series lead against England. Join The Roar for live scores of Day 5 from 3pm (AEDT).
India find themselves in a position where they may not even have to bat again as we move into the final day, with all of that coming down to how Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler bat.
The 400 England were able to score in the first innings always looked well below par, because although the pitch was deteriorating, it was still good enough to bat on and India were always going to rack up a big score.
At the end of Day 3, even at 7 for 450 England were still well and truly in the match – only behind 50 runs and still questions hanging over the Indian batting under pressure, even a small chase might have had them flustered.
But Virat Kohli, along with Jayant Yadav, ensured India will be chasing next to nothing, if at all, as the pair guided the hosts on to 631.
Kohli, who has been in splendid form for the duration of this series, hit a stunning 235 at a strike rate of almost 70 with England’s spinners unable to stop him, while number nine Yadav made 104, guiding India to a 231-run lead.
England’s approach in reply was the correct one – that was to attack. There was simply no point attempting to fend off India’s spinners for an extended period of time, but in the end, even the attack failed.
After being 2 for 43 with Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings back in the pavilion and Moeen Ali departing for a duck, it was left to Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow to mount the resistance.
Root would eventually be knocked over for a solid 77 while Bairstow made it to stumps on 50 not out, joined by Jake Ball who survived, protecting Jos Butler.
England find themselves still 49 runs off the pace, 6 for 182 in their second innings and looking at an innings defeat.
Day 5 Prediction
This match is a formality at this point. With only four wickets required for victory, and absolutely zero chance of England scoring the runs required to mount a charge, the only question is if they will get enough to make India bat again.
Given they still need 49 and that they are now into the tail, with only Jonny Bairstow at the crease and Jos Buttler to join him, even that looks a tough equation for the tourists.
As much as we all love a cricketing miracle, there won’t be much nail-biting going on from Virat Kohli and his men today.
The two sides have made the pitch look completely different, as India often do when batting at home, and they will move 3-0 ahead in the series today.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of the final day’s play in Mumbai from 3pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
James Anderson's record-breaking international cricket career will end this northern summer, following crunch talks with England head coach Brendon McCullum. Anderson announced on Saturday…
This series’ twelfth and final team has a distinct West Indian flavour at the top of the order, and a domineering captain.
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
England's chances of retaining the Twenty20 World Cup have been hit for six with the news Ben Stokes has opted out of selection for…
Bazball was developed as a strategy devised to use the resources efficiently rather than revolutionize the system.
England's tour of India has ended in abject fashion as the tourists were hammered by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, with…
