India vs England: Rain & Chilly Conditions - Will Weather Affect 5th Test in Dharamsala?

Add as a preferred source on Google

India vs England 5th Test is scheduled to be held at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala from Thursday (March 7) to Monday (March 11).

Rohit Sharma's Team India have already sealed the series 3-1 after a 5-wicket victory over Ben Stokes' England last month at JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.

Now, the home side, which lost the series opener and bounced back with three successive wins, will look to extend their winning run and cement their place on top of the World Test Championship standings.

But the Indian team are likely to face their opponents in "English" conditions at least due to the weather, which is forecast to be very cold with temperatures reducing to as low as 5°C on the first day of the Test on Thursday (March 7).

There is also prediction for rain on the days of the match, including the opening day when AccuWeather has forecast "Mostly cloudy and chilly; a little morning rain followed by a couple of thundershowers in the afternoon." So, will weather have an affect in the Test?

Will weather affect India vs England 5th Test in Dharamsala?

The current conditions are a little better compared to last week when many weather aggregators predicted for snow during the Test. While there is less chance of snow during the match days, wet conditions are likely to be in-store for the coming days.

According to the Indian MET department, there is prediction for light rain on the opening day (Thursday, March 7) followed by two days of clear sky before rains return on the fourth day (Sunday, March 10).

AccuWeather also forecast 82 percent chance of precipitation on the first day of the Test, but predict clear and cool conditions for the next four days. WeatherChannel and BBC, meanwhile, predict that there will be no rain on all the five days.

With all the four Tests so far ending inside four days, there is a chance that even the 5th Test in Dharamsala could be decided earlier. So, even if there is rain on one of the days, there is still time for a result.

While there is a threat of rain, the temperatures are also expected to be on lower side with the minimum temperature predicted to be 5°C on the opening day, and expected to rise from 8 to 11°C in the next four days. The max temperature will be 10-13°C on the opening two days, rising to 19°C and 21°C on the final two days.

The cool conditions will tempt both sides to add an extra pacer after having used spin for the series so far. Jasprit Bumrah's return could see India field three pacers, while England could add Mark Wood to the mix.

However, it will be interesting to see which player will make way for the two players in their respective teams. Will India bench Kuldeep Yadav, who has had a decent outing in Dharamsala? And, will England drop Ollie Robinson? All that will be clear in the days to come.