Confident India aim to level series in 4th Test
Southampton, Aug 29: After a morale-boosting win at Nottingham, India will be aiming to level the five-match rubber when they take on England in the fourth cricket Test starting at the Rose Bowl Ground here from Thursday.
After a narrow 31-run loss in the first Test at Edgbaston, the visitors suffered an innings defeat at Lord's and were on the verge of losing the series. However, the Virat Kohli-led Indian team bounced back in the third Test to register an emphatic 203-run victory, keeping the series alive.
Kohli's side still trail 1-2 in the series and will be eyeing to replicate their previous show to level the series before going to the decider.
On Thursday, the Indian skipper is most likely expected to stick with the winning combination.
Kohli currently leads the run charts with 440 runs, which includes two centuries and as many half-centuries and once again, the Indian batting will more or less depend on the 29-year-old.
Vice captain Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara scored 81 and 72 runs respectively in the third Test and both will need to repeat their performance here.
With Murali Vijay axed from the remainder of the series, Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul would once again open India's batting, while Hardik Pandya is likely to be retained in the playing XI after his all-round show in the third Test.
Hardik had bagged six wickets conceding 50 runs at Nottingham beside playing an unbeaten 52-run knock in the second innings.
In the bowling department, the visitors would in all likelihood opt for three pacers, keeping in mind the green-top laid out for the fourth Test.
The trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami returned a handful from the third Test, with Bumrah's fifer ripping through the English batting order in the second essay.
Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to recover from his injury and will shoulder the responsibility as the lone spinner in the side, and in case of a forced change, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja is already warming the bench for the first three Tests.
On the other hand, England will hope their misfiring opening combination of Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings to give them a decent start.
England's batting so far, has revolved around the likes of skipper Joe Root, Jos Buttler and injured stumper Jonny Bairstow, who is expected to play as a specialist batsman in the fourth Test.
Batsman James Vince was called up to the England squad as cover for Bairstow, but there are growing calls for his inclusion into the playing eleven nevertheless.
The bowling unit will once again be on expected lines with the star pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad leading the attack that comprises all-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes.
It will be interesting to see whether England will persist with leg-spinner Adil Rashid or bring in an additional batsman and part-time spinner in Moeen Ali to bolster their batting.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant (WK), Karun Nair, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Hanuma Vihari, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
England: Joe Root (Captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Jos Buttler (WK), Oliver Pope, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Ben Stokes, James Vince.
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Hope West Asia conflict does not affect supply chain: Tata Group chairman
Jamshedpur (PTI): Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Tuesday hoped that the current conflict between Iran and the US-Israel does not affect the supply chain, and said the conglomerate has plans to mitigate risks that can emanate from the ongoing war in West Asia.
He also emphasised on the safety of employees of Tata group companies working in West Asia.
"Geopolitics is the most unpredictable situation. Last year was also a tough year. I think things will settle down soon, and I hope that the supply chain should not be a problem. As uncertainty prevailed in the geopolitical situation, we have planned to mitigate risks that can emanate from the prevailing situation, not only for the Tata Group but also for the country," he said.
Chandrasekaran, along with Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director T V Narendran and heads of various group companies, was here to pay tribute to Tata Steel Founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata on his 187th birth anniversary.
He said Tata Steel procures limestone from West Asia and has enough inventory.
"Tata Steel will diversify for alternative sources. We are confident that it will not be a problem," he said.
Chandrasekaran also said the safety of employees working in West Asia is now the group's priority.
"Our employees are working there in service companies, hotels. Air India planes are flying. Our main priority is the safety of our employees. Our group has been active for the last three days. All employees are safe," he said.
The Tata Group chairman said that there may be some ups and downs in businesses in view of the prevailing situation.
"If the business gets affected for a few days and months, it will be recovered, but our top priority is the safety of our employees and their families. We plan for the civilians and risk mitigation, safety of employees and business continuity, supply eco-system and our customers," he said.
Replying to a query on artificial intelligence, Chandrasekaran said AI offers plenty of opportunities for Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
Whenever there is such a technology change, people get anxious that everything will be automated, which will risk their employment, he said.
"Even discussions take place about which business will go up or down, but companies such as Tata Steel and Tata Motors integrate these tools to take full advantage, and TCS has a vast opportunity in the AI sector," he said.
He also said the group's businesses are expanding, and its employee base was around 7.5 lakh five years ago, and "today, it is over 11 lakh".
"Many manufacturing jobs are coming up with our expansion plan, and these figures are likely to go up to 15 lakh in the next five-six years. We need skilled people...young people from all disciplines," Chandrasekaran said, adding that the group was also investing in skill development.
Extending greetings to the people on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Tata Steel founder, Chandrasekaran said he was happy to be in Jamshedpur.
Tata Steel, which will complete 120 years of operations this May, continues to thrive and is pushing forward with new technology, he said.
In Jamshedpur, he said, Tata Motors is also investing in building next-generation technology using hydrogen.
Tata Power is also expanding its partnership with Tata Steel and Tata Motors in renewable energy technology, he said.
"Many things are happening, and we would like to see how we can be part of the ecosystem and continue to grow," he said.
Asked about his meeting with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi on Monday, Chandrasekaran said it was constructive.
"We have announced an investment of Rs 11,000 crore to develop something to address carbon footprint," he said.
