Virat Kohli's squad eyes Test cricket history at Old Trafford

The fifth and final Test match in the India versus England series begins on September 10 at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, and both teams have a lot riding on its outcome with the tally in India’s favour at 2-1.

For the Indian cricket team, having registered an emphatic 157-run win in the fourth Test against England at the Oval, Virat Kohli and his squad would now have their eyes firmly set on winning the final Test at Manchester to complete a comprehensive 3-1 series win over the Three Lions.

Heading into the final Test, it is safe to say that the visitors are firm favourites, and England is left to do with all the heavy lifting in picking the best possible 11. India's batting which has been under scrutiny throughout the series showed signs of revival in the second innings of the Oval Test.

The bowling department has been on fire for the visitors, and the Oval Test showed that even if the conditions are not assisting much, Indian seamers can rattle the opposition with reverse swing.

Talking about hosts England, Jos Buttler will be donning the wicketkeeping-gloves, and hence only one of Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow will feature in the playing XI. England also has a headache of whether to play both James Anderson and Ollie Robinson looking at their workload.

Mark Wood is fit for the fifth and final Test, and hence it needs to be seen whether England want to go for someone who can rattle the opposition through pace and bounce.

(ANI)