India vs England, 4th Test Preview: India Look To Fight Back After Big Defeat In Leeds

India vs England: Ajinkya Rahane's form and senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's probable inclusion will be in focus as India take on England in the fourth Test at The Oval with the series level at 1-1

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane's form and senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's probable inclusion will be in focus as India look to move on from their Leeds debacle when they take on a stronger England team in the fourth Test at the Oval starting Thursday. The high of an inspirational victory at the Lord's was followed by back-to-back batting debacles at Headingley and the penultimate game at Oval would certainly have an impact on both sides as the series heads towards its business end. Skipper Virat Kohli had said that a victory at Lord's didn't guarantee a win in the next Test and a defeat at Headingley doesn't mean that an encore would happen at the Oval with the series locked at 1-1. Not the one to believe that outside noise (fans and experts) should be given much credence, the Indian captain, in his heart of hearts, knows that all is not well with his batting unit and the biggest problem is the performance of its three middle-order stalwarts -- the skipper himself, Cheteshwar Pujara and his deputy Rahane. Pujara might have redeemed himself with a knock of 91 which was high on "intent quotient" but the same can't be said about Rahane, whose form is shaky despite a crucial 61 in the second innings at the Lord's. In all likelihood, Rahane would get another chance but over the past two years, his inconsistency has hurt this team badly.