New Delhi: The current India-England series has already seen a fair share of unique records and now when the series has entered into its final leg, what better place than the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai to host the fourth Test match.
India, leading the five-match series 2-0 will look to seal the series and England on the other hand, will look to stage a comeback like 2012. However, there will be some more unique records which would take place when these two sides lock horns tomorrow.
India’s chance to match their own record
If the Virat Kohli led Indian side manages to avoid defeat in this Test match then they will not only claim the series but they will also equal the record of the longest unbeaten streak by an Indian side. Currently the record stands with the Kapil Dev led side, which had a 17-match run without a defeat between 1985 and 1987.
Silver Jubilee for Wankhede stadium
This will be a special occasion for the iconic stadium which had witnessed India’s world cup triumph in 2011. It will become only the fourth venue in India to host 25 or more Test matches. Wankhede hosted its first ever Test match in 1975, in which Clive Llyod’s West Indies thrashed India by 201 runs.
No Mumbaikar in Mumbai
With the untimely injury to Ajinkya Rahane, the fourth India-England Test will also be the first ever Test match at Wankhede without a Mumbai player. Whether it was Eknath Solkar or Farokh Engineer; Sunil Gavaskar or Sachin Tendulkar; Dilip Vengaskar or Ravi Shastri, a Wankhede Test match always had at least one player from the most popular Ranji side of the country. But this Test match is all set to be the first ever occasion without a Mumbaikar in the Indian XI.
23 years, for a Test without Sachin
Sachin Tendulkar played his first ever Test match at Wankhede in 1993 and since then the little master represented India in 11 consecutive Tests for 20 years. Ironically, Sachin bid adieu to cricket in 2013 by playing his last Test against West Indies in this very ground. When Test cricket again returns to Wankhede tomorrow, there will be no Tendulkar at No.4 for India, a first in 23 years.
21 matches, 21 different playing XIs
Virat Kohli has never fielded the same side in two consecutive Test matches. If India make any changes to its side from Mohali, which is almost certain with the injury to Rahane, it will stretch the streak to 21 matches without playing two consecutive Tests with the same side.