The fifth Test between India and England is set to be affected by the weather. The chilly weather and rain could be a big factor that could determine the result of the match. A few days back, the Indian analyst and commentator, Harsha Bhogle, took to X and gave an update involving the weather of Dharamshala for the five days. As per the weather reports it is predicted to be chilling cold in Dharamshala.

Bhogle took to X and wrote that he checked the forecast for the five days of the play between India and England. He claimed that even reading the weather report made him shiver. Bhogle claimed that the maximum temperature for the first day of the play is 10 degrees centigrade. While Bhogle is hoping for the weather to get better, he revealed the weather forecast for the play during the daytime.

The commentator claimed that at 7 a.m., the weather is likely to be around two degrees Celsius with the presence of snow. Even the weather reports for the fifth Test have claimed the same. According to ‘AccuWeather’, the first two days of the Test are to be filled with cold temperatures.

Advantage for England?

For the first two days of the Test, the weather is likely to be cloudy and cooler. In the afternoon, the city is expected to witness rain and thundershowers for some time. “Mostly cloudy and colder; a little morning rain followed by a couple of thundershowers in the afternoon,” claimed the weather report. Most websites have reported a similar condition for the fifth Test between England and India.

However, the weather is likely to get better for the last three days. “Pleasant and warmer with abundant amounts of sunshine,” read the weather report for the last three days. If what reports claim is to be believed, one will feel that the visiting side might have a bit of an advantage. The showers of rain and cold weather are more familiar to Englishmen than the Indians.

Michael Vaughan has made a huge claim on Shoaib Bashir. The star analyst has regarded Bashir as the new Ravichandran Ashwin following his performance in the Ranchi Test against India. The 20-year-old had a great outing in the middle for England when they took on India in the fourth Test of the series. Vaughan claimed Bashir to be a bright spot.

Speaking about the positives for England from the 4th Test, the former England batter claimed Bashir to be a superstar in the making. Vaughan felt that it was a great week for Test cricket given how the Test match panned out. Vaughan claimed that England had unearthed a world-class Superstar in the making. The statement of the former Ashes-winning captain has now gone viral on social media.

Vaughan felt that Bashir is the new Ravi Ashwin and felt it is worth celebrating the emerging bowler. “One of the great weeks, celebrating another world-class superstar that we’ve unearthed, Shoaib Bashir. That’s what we’re celebrating. Second Test match, eight wickets, he’s the new Ravi Ashwin, and we’ve unearthed him. So, we’re celebrating a new superstar in English cricket,” Vaughan said about Bashir.

Shoaib Bashir’s performances in the series so far

Bashir has been good in the series so far. The young spinner faced visa hurdles before making it to the England squad for the tour. On his first match of the series, Shoaib claimed four wickets on debut in Vizag and turned out to be an impressive bowler. In the 3rd Test, Bashir was dropped at the cost of an extra pacer. He came back to the side for the 4th Test and had a dream spell in Ranchi against India.

In the first innings of the 4th Test, the right-arm off-spinner claimed five wickets, his first in Tests. In the second innings, Bashir was again the star as he claimed three wickets. It was as if he stood between win and India in the Test match. It was the best spell for an English bowler in India for a long time.

India has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround in the ongoing Test series against England, bouncing back from a first-match defeat in Hyderabad to claim a commanding 3-1 lead. The series victory in the fourth Test was a testament to their resilience and determination, as they have won games despite being put under immense pressure.

Now, with the series poised for a thrilling conclusion in Dharamsala, India’s sights are firmly set on securing a resounding 4-1 victory. A triumph would not only solidify their dominance over England but also help them claim firm control in terms of the World Test Championship points table. This crucial match carries immense weight, and the Indian team is determined to deliver a performance worthy of champions.

One of the most heartening aspects of India’s success has been the contribution of their young players who have embraced the challenge with open arms. In the absence of established names like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, the likes of Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and Akash Deep have stepped up magnificently, showcasing the incredible depth and talent pool within the Indian cricketing system. Their fearless approach and unwavering commitment have injected a fresh wave of energy into the team, proving to be a crucial factor in India’s resurgence.

Spotlight on middle-order spot!

However, one player hasn’t made the most of his opportunities. Rajat Patidar, who made his debut in the 2nd Test in Visakhapatnam, hasn’t found his feet at the Test level despite racking up runs for fun in the domestic arena. His recent run of low scores has put his place in the squad under significant scrutiny, and he now finds himself on the cusp of being dropped. This highlights the unforgiving nature of international cricket, especially with India having such a vast talent pool.

Patidar is likely to be replaced by the uncapped southpaw Devdutt Padikkal in Dharamsala. While this is an exciting opportunity for Padikkal to showcase his skills at the highest level, it also represents a harsh reality for Patidar. At 30 years old, the difficulty of regaining his spot in the team is huge, especially considering the pool of talented youngsters vying for the same position.

It remains to be seen if Patidar is indeed dropped or if the management decides to give him one final chance considering that the series has already been pocketed.