Keep calm and start afresh. That’s what India, on bit of a back foot after an embarrassing defeat in the previous game, should be telling themselves going into the fourth and penultimate Test versus England at The Oval in London, beginning Thursday.

A decent outing in the drawn series opener at Trent Bridge was followed by a sensational come-from-behind victory at Lord’s. But Team India left one and all shell-shocked with their tame surrender in the third Test at Headingley in Leeds, where England thrashed them inside four days. Precisely, a depleted England side, in terms of its bowling at least.

With very little gap between the third and fourth Tests, will India be able to put that forgettable time out at Headingley behind and start with fresh enthusiasm, which could catch England off guard?

“We have done it in the past. We were bowled out for 36 (versus Australia in Adelaide last December) and bounced back from that. Also, against England at home after a big defeat in the first Test (in Chennai).

“We’ve our ways to bounce back and can take confidence from what we’ve done in past. I’m sure you will see a much more spirited performance in the coming Tests,” bowling coach Bharat Arun asserted on the eve of the game.

The Indians can of course draw inspiration from that 36 all out last year as even with several of their key players missing out, they still went on to beat Australia 2-1 in that unforgettable series. But a fair analysis would suggest circumstances were different at that time. Trailing 0-1, an injury-riddled India had their backs to the wall and also played under a calm and composed Ajinkya Rahane, who was doing reasonably well with the bat too, then.

Besides, in that pink-ball game, India had bowled Australia out cheaply to take a sizeable first innings lead and it was just one poor session on Day III that cost them the match. At Headingley, India were under the cosh right from the very first morning of the Test, while England managed to put up a better show in terms of their batting that has been a concern for quite some time.

In other words, having trumped India in almost all aspects of the game last week, England will certainly look a rejuvenated lot and even harbour hopes of an encore of 2014, when they thrashed India 3-1 in spite of trailing after the first two Tests.

“The one thing we are really good at as a team, I think, is coming back from behind,” said spinner all-rounder Moeen Ali, named England’s deputy to captain Joe Root for the fourth Test.

“Now going forward, it’s really about putting in the performance than can take us ahead. We’re quite confident, and in particular against India, having done so in 2014,” Moeen emphasised.

Openers’ role

Inconsistencies and the lean patch of No.3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rahane has been a major reason behind India’s struggle to get 300-plus totals in Tests lately. Even in the home series earlier this year against England, which they won 3-1, India could reach 300 or more mainly due to one or two big knocks from someone at the top and a few stubborn lower-order partnerships that had the opponents deflated.

How openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul perform will again be central to India’s prospects at The Oval. Well, the opening duo’s job too won’t be easier as England mull including all-rounder Chris Woakes in their line-up (in place of the misfiring Sam Curran) which adds a little more experience to their bowling attack as well as giving a bit of cushion to their batting.

Root factor

India’s faulty batting in the third Test aside, their bowlers have also had a hard time against Root, who has had a massive impact on the scoreline being 1-1, especially when England’s batting looked extremely fragile in the first two Tests.

“We have given him pretty fast starts and obviously, we’re looking deep into those areas and will look to stem those,” agreed Arun.

To be fair to India’s bowlers, they have been quite impressive so far barring the first innings at Headingley when England managed 432. But given the current situation, they should look to get the England skipper out early or keep him quiet. That’s irrespective of the nature of the pitch.

Traditionally, The Oval is a very good batting surface with assistance for the spinners later on. “Most pitches in England tend to help spinners a little bit. Some obviously more than others, but there’s always a bit of spin. I’m expecting some spin towards the end, though it does look to be having a bit more grass than what you normally see here,” Moeen said.

Match starts: 3.30pm (IST), live on Sony Six and Sony Ten 3