England vs India, Fourth Test: Reasons why India might or might not win the match

India's victory in the third Test meant that the fourth Test was going to decide how the series will proceed and the all-important match has already seen quite a few ups and downs in the first three days. So all we can say is that the game is perfectly poised for Day 4.

After winning the toss the home team chose to bat first but on the first day of play, the English batsmen were rattled early by the Indian bowlers. The home team were lingering at 86-6 before the young all-rounder from Surrey, Sam Curran, and Moeen Ali scripted a rescue act for the team.

The duo put together 81 and helped their side reach a decent total of 246. Batting at 8, Sam Curran became the highest run-scorer for England in the first innings with 78 runs under his belt.

In the second innings of the match, India too lost both the openers before they crossed 50 runs but the partnership between Cheteswara Pujara and Kohli steadied things for the visitors. The 92-run partnership put India in command of the game but Sam Curran picking up the wicket of the Indian captain changed the dynamics of the game,

Following Kohli's departure, Moeen Ali outclassed the Indian middle and lower middle orders to pick up five wickets leaving India in a spot of bother. Even though the wickets kept on falling at the other end that did not rattle India's No.3 batsman. The centurion stitched useful partnerships of 32 and 46 for the tenth and the eleventh wickets with Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah respectively. Pujara's 132 helped India take a lead of 27 runs in the first innings.

Unlike the first innings, two top-order English batsmen contributed to the team's total. Keaton Jennings and Joe Root contributed 36 and 48 but that wasn't enough for England to be in a commanding position.

It was again the lower order that helped England extend their lead to 233. While Ben Stokes made 30 runs, it was Jos Buttler who made the biggest difference with 69 runs. Buttler, with this innings, became the highest run-getter for England in this series with 260 runs from 7 innings.

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Will lose: Sam Curran's presence in the middle

Sam Curran notched up a fifty in the first innings

Sam Curran has been the biggest find for the English team in this series. Playing just his fourth Test match, the youngest Curran brother has been performing outstandingly with the ball and especially with the bat.

The 20-year old is the second highest run-scorer for England in this series playing two innings less than the rest of the batsmen. He might as well become the leading scorer if he gets 18 more runs on Day 4. With the lead already being 233, few quick runs from the southpaw can take the game away from the visitors.

Will win: Kohli's ominous form

Kohli is the highest run scorer of the series

Virat Kohli has been batting at a completely different level compared to other batsmen in this series. The No.1 batsman in the Test cricket has scored 486 runs in the seven innings that he played so far.

The magnitude of the Indian skipper dominance can be clearly seen when you take a look at the top run-scorers chart of the series. Kohli is more than 200 runs ahead of the next best batsman, Jos Buttler.

If Virat Kohli, who already scored two centuries in the series, manages to make a big contribution today, India might fancy their chances of chasing down a total in excess of 250.

Will lose: The dangerous English pace quartet

Broad took three wickets in the first innings

The English pace quartet comprising of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes and Sam Curran is as lethal as any pace attack can be. Even in the first innings, Stuart Broad claimed three wickets including the wickets of both the openers. His opening partner, James Anderson is a world-class bowler who is on the verge of surpassing Glenn McGrath's record to become the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket.

While there were apprehensions about Ben Stokes knee injury before the match, the all-rounder did not show any signs of it during his brief stint with the ball in the first innings. If the English pacemen can get the new ball taking the game might be over for India very soon.

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Will win: Support to Kohli from other side

Pujara scored a century in the first innings

Unlike the first Test match in which Virat Kohli was the lone warrior with 200 runs in the match, other Indian batsmen have contributed in the last three innings. While Rahane scored a valuable 81 in the first innings of the third Test, it was Pujara and Pandya who scored half-centuries in the second innings to help India win the game.

Even in this match, Pujara rescued the team from being in an embarrassing situation after the captain's wicket fell. Pujara's 132 has helped India post a lead of useful 27 runs that might be crucial going further. Another positive sign for India is that the openers have shown intent in the last three innings. If Kohli and his men can bat sensibly India might create history by chasing down a score in excess of 200 in England.

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Will lose: Rough patch that will aid Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali took a five-wicket haul in the first innings

While India tackled the pacers decently well in the first innings, it was Moeen Ali who was the chief instigator with the ball. The off-spinner picked up five wickets in the first innings leading to a collapse of the middle and lower middle order before Pujara's pulled the team out of deep trouble.

With the development of the rough patch on the pitch, Moeen Ali will be much more dangerous to the right-handers in the fourth innings of the match. If the all-rounder can exploit the rough patch effectively, there is no doubt that England will win the series today itself, considering the fact that Indian batting lineup is predominantly filled with right-handed batsmen.