All you need to know about the 3rd India-England Test in Mohali

After easing their way into the 5-match series through a batting paradise in Rajkot, England were reacquainted with the vagaries of playing on Indian pitches. Even though the Vizag surface was far from being a rank turner, a semblance of turn and persistently uneven bounce was enough for the visiting batsmen to stumble.

India head into Mohali on the back of a 1-0 lead and are seeking another comprehensive performance in the crucial third Test. However, the hosts will also be wary of a possible backlash from an England team who may not go down without a fight or two.

Let us take a close look at five key factors surrounding the highly anticipated clash.

#5 – England need to bounce back quickly

England’s seamers managed to out bowl their spinners in Vizag

Interestingly, England have had to come back from a 0-1 deficit during both their previous series wins in India (2012 and 1984/85). The task does appear to be more difficult on this trip if the hosts’ recent form is anything to go by.

India have been undefeated for 16 Tests at home and 15 Tests overall. Visiting teams have often found out that trips to this part of the world often go pear-shaped if being forced to play catch up. If England do not have a successful game here, then they could very well leave themselves without anything to take home apart from the missed opportunity in Rajkot.

#4 – Mohali likely to shun local tradition

Nasser Hussain posted a snapshot of the Mohali pitch on his official Twitter account

Despite talks of Mohali being a relatively better pitch for seam bowling when compared to the other venues in India, the pitch is shaping up to be a rather dry one. Normally sporting a noticeable greenish tinge, there does not appear to be a blade of grass this time around.

Batting could become considerably difficult from as early as in the second day itself when considering the warm weather leading up to and during the course of the match. While it took Shikhar Dhawan‘s audacious debut to thwart Australia 2013, South Africa were spun into submission on a vicious turner last year. England might just settle for a surface somewhere in between.

#3 – Parthiv Patel set for remarkable comeback

Parthiv’s previous Test appearance came way back in 2008

Wriddhiman Saha’s thigh injury has paved the way for Parthiv Patel to make an unexpected comeback into the Test team. Since the 31-year old’s last Test appearance (against Sri Lanka in August 2008), Anil Kumble has completed the transition from captain to coach. Though Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also part of the squad now, Umesh Yadav’s raw pace could come in handy on a dry surface.

Ben Duckett’s struggles against Ravichandran Ashwin should force the team management to draft in Jos Buttler. Injury clouds over Stuart Broad and Zafar Ansari could see the return of Chris Woakes as well as Gareth Batty.

Probable XI

India

Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav

England

Alastair Cook (c), Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Johnny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Gareth Batty and James Anderson

#2 – Moeen Ali on the cusp of a significant milestone

Moeen Ali is on the brink of an all round landmark

Here are some fascinating statistics to look at ahead of the match.

- Moeen Ali needs five more wickets to become only the 14^th England cricketer to complete the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in Tests.

- India have played 12 Tests in Mohali and lost only one of them. The only loss came in their first Test at this venue when Courtney Walsh led West Indies to a 243-run victory.

- Cook requires 33 more runs to move past Steve Waugh and enter into the list of top ten run-scorers in Test history.

- Kohli needs 109 more runs to become the 14^th Indian batsman to complete 4000 Test runs.

#1 – Ashwin ready to torment the visitors

Ashwin had adapted to an indifferent Vizag surface without any difficulty

As always, Ashwin will be the focal point in Tests in India. Following a below par showing on a flat surface in Rajkot, he produced a telling display in Vizag where the turn was only slow and minimal. Even though the off-spinner has run through opposition sides on numerous occasions, the 5-67 in the first-innings should be among his best spells in recent times.

Rapidly evolving as a shrewd operator, England will be wary of his deceiving drift irrespective of the nature of the pitch.

With their spinners not yet coming to the party, the visitors could once again be banking on the experience of Anderson and the control of Woakes. Jonny Bairstow also seems to be getting the hang of batting in the subcontinent and might be looking to push on for a substantial score.