India vs England Prediction: India has 3-1 lead in the series

India and England are going head to head in the 5th Match of Test Series at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala, Kangra, India on 07 Mar 2024. India has just lost one in seven games at home against England. Who will win this game of cricket?

Excluding the defeat in the opening match, India has been dominant in their performance throughout this series. The team comfortably won the 4th Test in Ranchi, marking their 17th consecutive series victory at home. Despite the absence of key players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, India's batting lineup has displayed an impressive performance. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been the standout performer with 655 runs in 8 innings and will once again be crucial for India's success. While Rohit Sharma has been inconsistent, Shubman Gill has proven to be reliable at the number 3 position. The newcomers in the series, such as Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan, provide depth to the batting lineup. Jasprit Bumrah is expected to rejoin the team, potentially leading to Akash Deep being dropped despite his good performance at Ranchi. The spin department is likely to remain unchanged, with Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja retaining their places.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah.

England will be looking to reflect on their performances and regain some pride as they prepare to play on Thursday. This series defeat during the 'Bazball' era will have a significant impact on the team's strategy. Even though Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have shown promise with good starts, consistency has been lacking. Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, and Johnny Bairstow have also struggled with pacing their gameplay, resulting in consequences for the team.

On a positive note, Joe Root scored a century in the last match, his first against India since 2022, which may help stabilize the middle order. The spinners have outperformed the faster bowlers on the tour, with Tom Harley leading the wicket-taking with 20 wickets and receiving support from Shoaib Bashir. James Anderson, however, has had a tough time, only managing to pick up 8 wickets in 6 innings.

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (WK), Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson.

It is likely that the team winning the toss will choose to bowl first in the upcoming match. The pitch at Dharamshala is expected to provide a fair competition between bat and ball, with movement for the seamers due to overcast weather. The surface is anticipated to be good for batting on the 2nd and 3rd days, with spinners coming into play later in the match. The weather in Dharamshala will be chilly with a maximum temperature of 15 degrees and overcast skies with some drizzling expected throughout the weekend.

India has been performing well in the series and is expected to continue their strong performance, especially with the return of Jasprit Bumrah strengthening their bowling. England, on the other hand, has faced three consecutive losses and may struggle to bounce back. The conditions in Dharamshala may not be typical for India, but it could work in favor of India's superior bowling lineup. Overall, it is predicted that India will emerge victorious in the match.