India vs England 4th Test betting tips

Leading 2-1 after their comprehensive win in Rajkot, Rohit Sharma’s India are on the brink of a series victory ahead of the fourth Test against England in Ranchi, beginning Friday morning (4am, TNT Sports 1).

Following centuries for Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja in India’s first innings, England made a strong start to their reply – largely thanks to Ben Duckett – before suffering an all-too-typical middle-order collapse. Joe Root’s reverse scoop dismissal at the hands of Jasprit Bumrah attracted the most headlines amid a Bazball backlash.

A swift double-hundred from Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second innings helped India set an unrealistic victory target of 557. Jadeja then proved equally effective with the ball as England suffered a record defeat by 434 runs.

Bumrah has been rested for this Test with Mukesh Kumar coming into the squad. But Ollie Pope said he thinks India will play an extra spinner based on the pitch, meaning Axar Patel will probably return with Mohammed Siraj as the lone paceman. Despite their premier fast bowler’s absence, cricket betting sites make India 4/9 favourites to take a 3-1 series lead.

For 3/1 shots England, James Anderson will surely be given a break after taking a battering in Rajkot. Ollie Robinson stands by, although a return for Shoaib Bashir appears more likely. 

With Ben Stokes reportedly bowling at full pelt in the nets, he could offer an extra option with Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed and Mark Wood set to stay in the starting XI.

Captain Stokes will hope England can produce a positive response to their third Test drubbing in a must-win contest, but they face an uphill battle.

Jadeja to play key role again

Ranchi has hosted just two Tests previously. The first was in March 2017 with India declaring on 603/9 after Australia had been bowled out for 451. Steve Smith’s tourists were in trouble on the final day but managed to play out a draw.

The second was an emphatic innings win for the hosts early on day four against South Africa in October 2019. India declared on 497/9 with the Proteas bowled out for 162 and 133.

In both matches, left-arm orthodox spinners performed well with Jadeja – player of the match in Rajkot last week – taking nine wickets in the draw with Australia. 

Ravi Ashwin, who returns after leaving Rajkot to be with his ailing mother, had just one victim in those two matches. Shahbaz Nadeem, in the first of his two Tests, had match figures of 4-40 against South Africa after quicks Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav had done the early damage in both innings.

Jadeja, who took 12-233 in those two Ranchi Tests and scored half-centuries in both knocks there, is averaging 67 with the bat this series having missed the second Test. 

He is a proven matchwinner with bat and ball and, looking at the prices on betting apps, we’re backing him at 7/1 with Unibet to be player of the match after scooping the prize in Rajkot.

India vs England Tip 1: Ravindra Jadeja player of the match – 7/1 Unibet

Back Duckett to deliver

Duckett’s rapid-fire century was one of the few crumbs of comfort England could take from the third Test. The left-hander attacked with gusto in the first innings before a lapse in concentration against Kuldeep Yadav, and a run out ended his second knock. 

Before that, only Bumrah and Ashwin have accounted for him in the series. With left-arm spinners – so dangerous at Ranchi in the past – less threatening to Duckett than most, he should accumulate runs.

Bet365 has an interesting player performance market, unique among betting sites, where each run is worth a point, a catch is worth 10 points, and a wicket 20. So far this series, his player performance scores have been 92, 59 and 167 with the Nottinghamshire star taking a catch in each match. 

Based on this, and with his confidence sky-high after Rajkot, the spread of 65.5 performance points looks low and a bet on the over at 5/6 is one to ponder seriously.

India vs England Tip 2: Ben Duckett player performance over 65.5 points – 5/6 bet365

Hartley hopes for more wickets

Looking at the previous two Tests at Ranchi, left-arm visiting spinners have also taken their fair share of wickets. For Australia in 2017, Steve O’Keefe took 3-199 compared to Nathan Lyon’s 1-163. Two and a half years later, George Linde was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker with 4-133 as India again batted just once.

Hartley can do similar for England having become the mainstay of the attack on this tour following his transformation from zero to hero in the first Test. 

Jack Leach’s injury leaves him as the only left-arm spinner in the side, and his 16 wickets this series at an average of 33.19 compare favourably with Ashwin’s 11 wickets at 34.82.

He can continue to belie his lack of experience on what should be a favourable track, and his price with gambling sites to take three or more wickets in India’s first innings may prove good value.

India vs England Tip 3: Tom Hartley to take 3+ wickets 1st innings – 11/8 Betway

Free bet on India vs England fourth Test

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