Shaw-stopper at the oval

India is likely to give 19-year-old opener Prithvi Shaw a Test cap in the last match at The Oval. As both Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have not come up with any scores as openers the selection of Shaw might become easier for captain Virat Kohli.

KL Rahul looked out of sorts in England, falling in almost identical ways, exposing his lack of technique. There is a school of thought that believes the 19-year-old Shaw is too young to play in a Test as an opener. But the counter to that also is strong as none other than Sunil Gavaskar has called for his inclusion in the playing eleven.

If India is not making changes with an eye on future, then that would mean the team management is happy with the performance. After all, long Indian careers were made when young talents were given the break at the right time. Sunil Gavaskar himself and Sachin Tendulkar are the examples.

Throughout the series India struggled to put up a good opening combination. If Shaw comes in, it will be India’s fourth opening combination during this series, highlighting India’s problems at the top.

The indication is that Shikhar Dhawan would retain his place ahead of Rahul. The left-hander has shown great application and execution since coming back into the side for the third and fourth Tests. Even if he hasn’t really set the scoreboards racing, like he usually does when in flow, he has got himself in in a few innings. The same cannot be said of Rahul, who has struggled both while trying to be defensive or attacking. With Shaw coming in, India will have two attacking batsmen at the start.

The Indian team is in a catch 22 situation as there are not many players staking claims at the moment.  Ravichandran Ashwin struggled to take wickets at Southampton when his opposite number Moeen Ali had plenty of them.

The Oval is the most helpful ground for spinners traditionally and it is strange that India is not even thinking about its decision to send back Kuldeep Yadav after one failure and that too on a seaming pitch. At a time when India needs Kuldeep most, India has question marks about its spin department for the final Test with Ravindra Jadeja as the only option to replace Ashwin.

England was bold enough to bring in Sam Curran and Ollie Pope even when it was successful, but India was hesitant to try young blood even when it was losing. That underlines the change of approach of both the teams.