The rescheduled 5th decider test of “The Pataudi Trophy” will take place on July 1st, 2022. The match which was to happen on September 10th was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Indian camp. The game was later rescheduled and will occur on July 1st, 2022. So far, India leads the series by 2-1; the fifth match will decide if India will take the trophy home or will the honor be shared.
Ahead of the final Test, both the teams have had drastically impactful changes in their squad. The World cup winning all-rounder Ben Stokes is named the new skipper of the England Test Team. Stokes was appointed as the captain in replacement of Joe Root. The finest English batsman Joe Root stepped down from captaincy on April 15th following a poor run in Australian and Caribbean tours. Root and Stokes are both players with different attitudes and approaches. And a captaincy switch will bring a new element to the English squad. Further, the England Cricket Board has appointed the former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as the Head Coach. McCullum brings in years of vital experience with him, and his aggressive yet calm approach can take England to new heights.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma, who took India’s Test captaincy command on March 4th, will be seen leading India on the fifth and final Test. Rohit was named India’s Red ball skipper, and post-Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain following a 2-1 series defeat against South Africa. Rohit has so far led India in two Test matches and has won both of them. The Indian Opener as a captain brings a new dynamic to the Indian Test side, which will be compelling to see in the final. Virat Kohli led India for seven consecutive years and was an aggressive captain. In contrast, Rohit Sharma has a different approach to his captaincy and is usually calm and composed.
Further, the wall of Indian cricket, Rahul Dravid, was appointed as India’s new Head Coach on November 3rd. Dravid has played a crucial role in building the upcoming talents of Indian cricket. Known for his temperament and patience, Dravid can significantly impact India’s fortune.
Rohit Sharma in blend with Rahul Dravid will be a combination to watch for in the series decider. Further, the approaches and strategies the duo comes up with will be exciting to witness. The switch in the Indian captaincy and coach and how it affects India’s approach
With captaincy switched and coaches changed, July 1st will be a thriller and will portray both the teams playing a different and effective form of cricket with a new approach.
