Following their 434-run defeat in Rajkot, England have made two changes for the must-win fourth Test.
Ollie Robinson and Shoaib Bashir will play in the fourth Test against India as England makes changes in this must-win game on a cracked Ranchi pitch. The pair replace Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed and are the only changes from the 434-run defeat to India in Rajkot, with England 2-1 down and desperate to keep the five-match series alive.
Robinson is set to play his first Test in India, returning to the side for the first time since suffering a back spasm in the first innings of the third Ashes Test last July, which was also his last competitive match. He will join James Anderson, who bowled 38 overs in the third Test at Rajkot, with match figures of 1 for 139.
Somerset off-spinner Bashir has been selected over Rehan, who is the team's second-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets at 44 from three matches. Although the 19-year-old Rehan has bowled valiantly, he was targeted by India's batters, primarily Yashasvi Jaiswal, in the second innings at Rajkot, resulting in him returning 1 for 108 from 25 overs.
England's decision to opt for Bashir's high-action finger-spin over Rehan's wrist-spin reflects their impression of the pitch, which they believe will contribute to a fast-paced, spin-friendly game. Dan Lawrence was also in contention for Bashir's place as a part-time off-spin provider and batting reinforcement.
Bashir will join Tom Hartley and Joe Root as part of a slow bowling trio. Bashir debuted in the second Test at Visakhapatnam, taking 3 for 138 and 1 for 58. He missed the series opener in Hyderabad due to visa issues.
This will be Robinson's 20th cap, and his selection demonstrates the team's faith in the 30-year-old. Despite taking 76 wickets at an average of 22.21, he has faced constant questions about his fitness and ability to bowl multiple spells at a consistently challenging pace throughout a Test match. Having worked hard to improve his fitness over the past nine months, he now has the opportunity to prove himself as a Test bowler when England need him most.
He will play alongside veteran Jimmy Anderson, who had been considered as one of the likelier bowlers to make way due to his heavy workload in Rajkot and the short turnaround between matches. Anderson currently has six wickets at 35.83 in his two appearances to date. But Stokes has backed the 41-year-old to lead the line again. He has 696 career dismissals to his name.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson, Shoaib Bashir