England vs India: 3 Surprises that can unfurl ahead of the 5th Test

The most awaited Test series of this season is just close to the finish line, and it has delivered big time. India showed lots of hopes and promises but could not capitalize on the key moments thus once again being on the wrong side of the result. While this series is basically done and dusted, Indians are not known for throwing the towel and are going to come with all guns blazing.

Here are three surprising events that can unfurl before the 5th and the final Test match.

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#3 Prithvi Shaw makes his international debut

The prodigy finally gets a chance

Prithvi Shaw's selection in the squad for the final two Tests had raised a few eyebrows among the fans, but he just might end up replacing Lokesh Rahul at Kennington Oval. It is clearly evident from Virat Kohli and the selectors that they are looking towards the future with the inclusion of Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari into the squad.

Both Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan have been given enough opportunities to prove the mettle, but except for the Southampton Test both the openers have failed to give a good start. While Dhawan adjusted pretty well compared to Rahul, but still couldn't convert those into session winning efforts. Dhawan is already 32, and he is not getting any younger and Rahul is not doing justice to his talent, so India might want to try to young talents before their next tour to England. This is the chance that Shaw should grasp.

#2 Sam Curran opens the innings

The Young Rockstar

This series has been difficult for openers in general, but the pair of Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings have found it more difficult than their counterparts. England has struggled to find a permanent opening partner for Cook, but off late his form has also taken a slump, which has made many to believe that the opening combination will be changed in the final match.

Introduction of Sam Curran to the opening spot can be a gamble which could pay really well. Keaton Jennings has been struggling in literally every innings that he has played in this Test series. Curran has shown that he is good while playing the moving ball and has a good head at such a young age. This can well be a masterstroke.

#1 India might once again play the same eleven

India looked settled even at loss

The Indian team under the leadership of Virat Kohli has not played with the same eleven for two consecutive Test matches. This has been mainly due to some injury scares and also India playing with the horses-for-courses policy, but for the first time, they have sported the same eleven in the 3rd and 4th matches of this 5-match series.

Even though India lost the match, they were still more stable than they have ever been before. Their pace attack has been the biggest talking point of this series. The only person going through with a bad patch is KL Rahul, but he has been the standout in the slip cordon. Ashwin had poor Test match as he could not do enough with the ball in a pitch that suited him, but Ashwin is champion player, and one can expect him to come good for the final Test.