IND vs ENG: Test Records and Stats at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, the final showdown of the Test series between India and England is poised for an enthralling climax. Holding a commanding 3-1 series lead, India enters the fray buoyed by a string of remarkable performances that have turned the tide in their favour.

From a challenging start trailing 0-1, to rallying from a precarious 33/3 in the third Test, and navigating through the series without key players like Virat Kohli and the absence of KL Rahul post the opening match, India's journey to securing the series has been a testament to their depth and tenacity. The emergence of young talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, with a staggering 655 runs at an average of 93.57, and Shubman Gill, contributing 342 runs, underscores the vibrant future of Indian cricket.

Debutants Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan have seamlessly transitioned their domestic prowess to the international arena, bolstering the batting line-up. England, facing a series of missed chances after initially leading, might look back in contemplation at what could have been a historic win. Despite commendable efforts, the lack of consistent performances from veterans like Root, Bairstow, and Stokes, none averaging above 30, has been a critical shortfall. While Anderson managed only 8 wickets, the fresh talents of Hartley and Bashir have been a silver lining, with notable wicket tallies.

With Dharamsala set to witness the milestone 100th Tests of Ashwin and England’s Bairstow, the stage is set for a dramatic finale. England aspires for redemption to salvage pride in the concluding match, while India aims to encapsulate their series triumph with a decisive victory, celebrating their achievements and heralding the continuation of their dominance in home conditions. Notably, both Jonny Bairstow and Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will make their 100th Test appearances.

Head-to-Head Test Record:  

India and England have played 135 Test matches against each other. India have won 34, England have won 51, and 50 matches have been drawn. In India, they have played 68 Tests. India have won 25, England have won 15, and 28 matches have been drawn. 

Pitch Report:

The fifth Test between India and England kicks off in Dharamshala on March 7. The ongoing five-match series sees India hold a commanding 3-1 lead. The pitches at the HPCA Stadium have been batting-friendly but also produce good bounce and carry, which has assisted the quick bowlers. Spinners might get help as the days progress to third day onwards.

Test records and stats in HPCA Stadium Dharamsala:   

In the solitary Test match held at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, pacers have secured 12 wickets at an economy rate of 3.23. Meanwhile, spinners have clinched 18 wickets, maintaining an economy of 2.73. It's notable that the team batting second has emerged victorious once. Interestingly, the average score for teams batting first at this venue is 300. So far, in the four test matches, winning the toss, captains choose to field first, but the Dharamshala captain might choose to bat first.

X-factors for IND vs ENG, 5th Test 2024:

India

Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal is in excellent batting form, aggregating 655 runs in just eight innings at an impressive average of 93.57 and a phenomenal strike rate of 78.63. He's even hit two double centuries. Skipper Rohit Sharma is also in good touch, looking to play responsibly.

England

Tom Hartley has taken 20 wickets with an average of 33.45 and an economy of 3.16. His best bowling innings (BBI) is 7/62. Additionally, batter Zak Crawley has scored 328 runs, and Ben Duckett has amassed 314 runs. All three players will fight to win the fifth match and make the series 3-2.

Top Players Battles to Watch Out For:

English batters face challenges against Ashwin

Ben Duckett has faced significant challenges against off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. In nine innings, he has only managed to score 72 runs from 83 balls faced, averaging a meager 12.00. Notably, Ashwin has dismissed him a concerning six times.

Other English batters have also struggled against Ashwin — Zak Crawley has fallen four times, Ollie Pope six times in including three times in this series alone, and even Joe Root, though scoring 446 runs, faced difficulties encountering him seven times in 26 innings.

Despite their struggles against Ashwin, both Crawley (328 runs) and Duckett (314 runs) have accumulated decent scores in the ongoing series. However, even captain Ben Stokes has not been immune, falling to Ashwin twelve times in his 28 innings.

Shubman Gill vs Tom Hartley

Shubman Gill has faced challenges when encountering left-arm spinners in Test matches. Out of 23 innings, he has been dismissed nine times, accumulating 264 runs at an average of 29.33. His struggle is evident in the 602 balls he faced, with 438 dots, indicating difficulty in scoring freely. Notably, Tom Hartley has dismissed him twice in six innings, where Gill faced 204 balls and played 144 dots. This could potentially prompt Ben Stokes to consider introducing Hartley to specifically target Gill.

IND vs ENG, 5th Test Probable Playing XIs:   

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson, Shoaib Bashir