IND vs ENG, fifth Test: Overcast conditions in Dharamsala could be a paradise for seam bowlers

India's Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma during the fourth Test match against England. (Photo: Reuters)

The fifth and the final Test between India and England in Dharamsala, starting March 7, could be an interesting contest as weather will play a crucial role throughout the course of five days.

Rohit Sharma's men have already sealed the series 3-1 with victories in Vizag, Rajkot and Ranchi. They will be looking to pocket 12 more points before resuming the World Test Championship cycle in September.

English weather conditions

Besides England's Bazball tactics and vicious spin-bowlers in Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley, the Indian team will have to negate the threat of swing in the overcast conditions. England is used to such conditions at home, and Ben Stokes may recall Mark Wood and combine his pace with the swing of James Anderson and Ollie Robinson.

Stokes' men have already started acclimatising by running around the picturesque valley.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department's forecast, the temperature could dip to 5 degree Celsius, along with light rain in the first two days of the Test match. There will be sunshine from March 9, but there will be a constant threat of passing showers, which could impact the sessions.

The IMD has not ruled out thunderstorms and snow. If snowfall interrupts play, it will be a first in international cricket.

Earlier this year, in January, the Indian team had a tough time fielding against Afghanistan in the first T20I in Mohali in Punjab, which is closer to Himachal Pradesh. The players used hot water bags during drinks break and hand warmers in their pockets.

The WTC points table

India are currently on top of the WTC points table after three consecutive wins against England and New Zealand's loss to Australia in Wellington on Sunday. Rohit's men have 62 points (Points Percentage System at 64.58 per cent) after eight Tests. On the other hand, England is languishing at the eighth spot with 19.44 per cent.

The HPCA stadium in Dharamsala hosted only one Test before, in 2017, when India beat Australia by eight wickets. Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav were among the wickets. The Aussies would have played another Test last year, but it got shifted to Indore due to poor outfield conditions in Dharamsala.

The last time India and England played a challenging Test match in overcast conditions was in Nottingham in 2018. Hardik Pandya, not a Test regular, had picked up a five-for.

The fifth Test is definitely not a dead rubber.