In the fifth and final Test match between India and England at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, England won the toss and opted to bat first. Devdutt Padikkal received his Test cap, replacing Rajat Patidar, who was sidelined due to injury. Ravichandran Ashwin, set to play his 100th Test, presented Padikkal with his debut cap in a special ceremony conducted by head coach Rahul Dravid. With temperatures dropping to as low as 1 degree Celsius, both teams are bracing for a challenging match amid the intense cold.
Notably, this Test holds significance for two players reaching their 100th Test milestone: India's Ravichandran Ashwin and England's Jonny Bairstow. Both players made their debuts against West Indies, adding to the coincidental nature of the occasion. Despite India's series victory, securing a 4-1 finish could bolster their position in the World Test Championships points table. England made one change to their XI, bringing in Mark Wood for Ollie Robinson, while India kept their Playing XI undisclosed. The Dharamsala pitch is expected to favor batsmen, but the chilly conditions could pose challenges for both teams.