Virat Kohli-led India would come about all guns blazing against England in the third Test at Headingley. India registered a historic win at Lord’s in the second day, and would hope to continue the momentum against a struggling England. The third match of the five-Test series begins on Wednesday.

Skipper Virat Kohli would look to get back in form and contribute in this team’s success. He has gotten starts in the first two matches and scored a couple of 40s, but hasn’t been able to convert it into big innings. His last century in international cricket had come in November 2019, and Kohli has failed to reach the three-figure mark in 73 innings since then. He would hope to change that stat at Headingley.

Ahead of the Lord’s Test, the Indian middle-order had looked vulnerable, with Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane struggling to get runs. But on day 4 of the second Test, Pujara and Rahane batted together for 50 overs and kept India alive in the game. The duo ensured that the game went into the final day, where the Indian pacers bowled out England for 120.

On this tour, KL Rahul has been the pick among the batsmen. He has notched up a fifty and a century in the first two matches and will look to take his form into Headingley.

With conditions expected to be cold and favourable for the pacers at Headingley, India are expected to retain the four-prong pace attack, leaving no space for R Ashwin once again. Shardul Thakur is fully fit but it is unlikely that Kohli will make any changes in the pace attack which won India the game on day five at Lord’s.

England batting order has been found wanting in all four innings in this series. They have dropped opener Dom Sibley and brought in batsman Dawid Malan to rejig the side. The hosts have also drafter seamer Saqib Mahmood, who is expected to be in the playing XI as Mark Wood has been ruled out due to an injury.