For that reason, England at a tempting price of 11/4, will have their work cut out to go ahead in the series. India are firm favourites but watch out for their likely drift during the match in the in-play market.
Betting Odds Overview
Bumrah is the 9/4 favourite to be top bowler again but Kuldeep Yadav’s four wicket haul in the last test also caught the eye and he is 5/2 to follow up here as top wicket-taker. England have struggled to play him with any ease. Kuldeep has been in and out of India’s test team, but captured 5 wickets against West Indies the last test he played on this ground in 2018.
Top Order Performances
Crawley and Duckett are showing consistency at the top of the order and should be backed at 5/6 to score over 26.5 for the first wicket.
Zak Crawley top scored in both innings in the second test and is available at 9/2 to top score again. He is turning into an unlikely Mr Consistency (given his early career), averaging 50 in the series to date and is surely heading in the direction of a series-defining innings. Vice-captain Oly Pope has already shown his ability to go big (179 in the first test) and is also value at 5/1. In contrast, Jo Root has looked out of sorts and positively skittish at times in terms of his shot selection. Perhaps he is taking Bazball a little too literally and will surely be more restrained this time round.
India’s Batting Line-Up
With K L Rahul missing out again through injury and Shreyas Iyer dropped, India’s middle order is likely to include two debutants in Sarfaraz and Padikkal. Jaiswal was superb with his first innings 209 in the second test and is available again at 7/2. Shubman Gill put his poor form behind him with a career-saving century in India’s second innings. Now that he is assured of his place, his class can tell and he is recommended at 4/1 to be India’s top scorer.
Pitch Conditions and England’s Bowling
By all accounts we can look forward to a green-tinged pitch so England will likely play two seamers. Jimmy Anderson is favoured as England’s top bowler at 7/2.
Recommendations
England opening partnership; over 26.5 5/6
England top wicket taker (first innings) : Jimmy Anderson 7/2
England top run-scorer: Zak Crawley 9/2
India top wicket taker (first innings): Kuldeep Vadav 5/2
India top run scorer : Shubman Gill 4/1
