As anticipation builds ahead of the Third Test against England in Rajkot, Indian captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid find themselves facing a myriad of challenges and uncertainties that could hinder India in their pursuit of dominating 'Bazball' as well as the ongoing edition of the World Test Championship.

Following a resounding comeback in the Vizag Test, the stage seemed all set for the Indian team to go all-out in the Third Test and take the lead in the series, positioning themselves at the summit against England as well as in the ongoing World Test Championship. Images capturing a lengthy conversation between Rohit, Dravid, and BCCI Chief National Selector Ajit Agarkar at Vizag right after the match, which quickly spread across the internet, left Team India fans and enthusiasts in anticipation, fuelling speculation about 'obvious' changes in the 'crucial' Third Test. However, four days ahead of the clash, when BCCI revealed the squad for the remaining three matches, it resolved all availability doubts, only to pave the way for further selection dilemmas for Coach Dravid and skipper Rohit.

As former India captain Virat Kohli has chosen to withdraw from the remaining three Tests as well, fans continue to speculate about the reasons behind the ongoing unavailability of the Indian superstar batsman. Speculations rose even more when one of his close friends and long-term colleagues at RCB, De Villiers, on Friday, admitted to spreading false information about Kohli's absence. Notably, earlier De Villiers, on his YouTube channel, extended wishes to Kohli for 'his second child on the way' and expressed support for the Indian superstar by emphasising 'family comes first.' Whatever the reason for the Indian superstar's unavailability from the team, it undoubtedly exacerbates the concerns of Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma, particularly in the current situation.

Although Kohli's absence from the entire series awaited official confirmation from BCCI, Shreyas Iyer's exclusion appears to be a blow to the Indian Team at this juncture, who are eager to assert dominance over the visitors by the Third Test. Iyer, with all his past experience, brings diversity to the team, which has largely benefited the boys in blue thus far. However, as a back stiffness sidelines the middle-order batsman, restricting him from participating in the remaining Tests, the team management will need to make calculated decisions to optimise the team accordingly.

The return of 'dependables' KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja will undoubtedly boost Dravid's confidence, as he has long believed in a player's reliability over heroics. However, their participation is contingent upon clearance from the BCCI medical team. It remains to be seen whether Rahul, who is still waiting to prove himself with the bat this year, and Jadeja, who has found himself amidst an unexpected family situation, can set aside their stress and meet the expectations of the coach and captain.

Mohammed Shami, who enjoyed a dream run in 2023, is yet to return to action after an ankle injury at the end of the ODI World Cup. No updates on his recovery have been provided by BCCI, leaving Rahul Dravid with no option but to consider alternatives such as Mukesh Kumar and Bengal youngster Akash Deep, who has earned his maiden Test call-up for India. Some media reports after the second match hinted that the team management could contemplate leaving Bumrah out of the third Test, but with key players missing, the likelihood of that happening seems implausible.

However, with Mohammed Siraj back in the squad, experts are optimistic about bolstering the bowling side for the remaining tests. Additionally, youngster Akash Deep, who consistently impressed in the domestic circuit with his stellar performances for Bengal, will have the opportunity to prove himself. It remains to be seen if he can seize the chance when presented with it. It is crucial for the Indian Team to utilise their resources optimally to surpass England in this evenly-poised Test Series. Time will reveal the outcome.

The absence of key players, coupled with uncertainties surrounding the fitness of others, is likely to be at the centre of discussion within the Indian Team management and leadership. With each match of the series growing in significance, every player called upon to fill the void left by their absent teammates must rise to the occasion. The depth of talent within the Indian cricketing fraternity will now be put to the ultimate test, and it is imperative for the team to maintain focus, resilience, and unity as they strive to emerge victorious against one of the most formidable and challenging Test sides. As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the unfolding drama on the field, it is to be seen if coach Dravid and skipper Rohit can solve all the puzzles to breeze past the "English" Test.

India squad for the last three Tests

Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul*, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep