The Oval Test: Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh set to feature in India's playing XI against England

Four games done, one to go and with the score line 1-2, there is everything to play for India at The Oval. The visitors cannot win the series after the draw at Manchester but a 2-2 result will still be an impressive effort for a side that is playing its first Test series in transition.

When the squad for this tour was announced in May, not many expected India to compete at such extreme levels with a largely inexperienced squad. Shubman Gill, in his first series as captain, has led from the front in vintage fashion with over 700 runs already and has an outside chance of breaking Sunil Gavaskar's all-time record for most runs in a Test series (774). Flatter pitches and a Dukes ball that has gotten softer very easily are all factors in the run fests but pitches have had spice at times, like at Lord's and during phases in Headingley.

Batting hasn't been much of a concern for India but their bowling attack continues to be hit by injury woes and workload problems. Spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was advised to not play more than three games in the series and avoid successive Tests has already equalled the first metric and broken the second. With huge significance around the fifth Test, there is an outside chance that Bumrah could feature at The Oval too, although that will certainly be a last-minute call after consultations with the medical staff.

For now, the big update from the India camp is the high activity levels from Kuldeep Yadav on the first day of India's practice session at The Oval. According to RevSportz Global, the left-arm wrist spinner had a lengthy net session and bowled extensively to multiple Indian batters, troubling most of them with his flight, drift and turn. The Oval has known to assist spin as the game progresses and Kuldeep could finally play his first game of the series.

Apart from the x-factor that he provides, Kuldeep's addition could also be a forced move for the Indian think tank. Anshul Kamboj was far from impressive on debut and as harsh as it may be, he looks certain to sit out for the fifth Test. Then there is Mohammad Siraj who has endured a similar workload to Bumrah and featured in all four Tests this series. That makes for two fatigued leading pacers and India will need a solid frontline spinner in their line-up to allow rest to the pacers. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are available as spin options but they have largely played a holding role than an attacking one.

Arshdeep Singh, who should have debuted in Manchester but for a last-minute injury in the nets, is expected to get his maiden Test cap at The Oval. It should be a like-for-like swap with Kamboj and this gives India the variation of a left-arm pacer as well. Shardul Thakur could also make way and it is in his spot that Kuldeep could get a game, although this could reduce India's batting depth a bit. Akash Deepm who was ruled out of the fourth Test with injury, has also recovered well and was seen bowling actively in the nets alongside Arshdeep.

Should one or both of Bumrah and Siraj be unavailable as part of workload management, the think tank has Arshdeep and Deep ready to get into the XI according to the situation.