The India vs England 5th Test at the Kennington Oval in London has kicked off with all the drama and tension one would expect from a series decider. Scheduled from July 31 to August 4, 2025, this final match holds immense significance as England leads the series 2-1, and India must secure a win to level the series and retain the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy for the fourth consecutive time.
England won the toss and elected to bowl first, taking advantage of the overcast conditions and a green pitch that promised assistance to their pace attack. However, the hosts face a major setback with the absence of their skipper Ben Stokes due to a shoulder injury. Ollie Pope steps in as stand-in captain, while England made four changes to their playing XI, resting key players like Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse and bringing in Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue.
India, meanwhile, made four changes to their side as well. With Rishabh Pant sidelined due to a fractured toe and Jasprit Bumrah rested for workload management, replacements included Karun Nair, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Dhruv Jurel, who took over wicketkeeping duties. The Indian squad, led by Shubman Gill, is eager to bounce back after a challenging series so far, with their bowling unit especially under scrutiny following struggles with pace and accuracy in the previous Test.
The opening session saw England strike early, with Gus Atkinson removing India’s opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 2 runs, trapped LBW. Chris Woakes then dismissed KL Rahul for 14, who had been steady before a lapse in judgment led to him dragging the ball onto his stumps. India found themselves reeling at 38 for 2, with the early wickets raising the pressure on the middle order.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan steadied the innings with a cautious yet confident partnership. Sudharsan showed great composure, carefully negotiating the challenging conditions and timing his shots well, reaching 38 runs before falling to a sharp delivery from Josh Tongue that edged through to the keeper. Gill, meanwhile, impressed with his elegant stroke play, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar's 47-year-old record for the most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series, edging closer to Graham Gooch’s overall record of 752 runs in England.
However, the innings was marred by a costly mistake from Gill, who was run out for 21 after a suicidal single attempt that left him stranded halfway down the pitch. This moment of madness was a significant blow to India’s hopes, coming as the rain interrupted play multiple times, causing delays and early lunch breaks. The weather, forecasted to be rainy and overcast throughout the five days, has already played a disruptive role, with heavy showers forcing players off the field and delaying the resumption of play.
India’s innings continued to struggle as Dhruv Jurel, who had replaced the injured Pant, was dismissed for 19 after attempting a rash shot off Gus Atkinson. Karun Nair showed glimpses of resilience, scoring two well-timed boundaries off Jamie Overton and helping India reach 163 for 6 by the close of day one. Ravindra Jadeja contributed 9 runs before being caught behind off Josh Tongue, while Washington Sundar and others looked to stabilize the tail end of the innings.
England’s bowling attack, despite missing some frontline players, has been disciplined and effective. Gus Atkinson, in particular, stood out with tight spells and crucial breakthroughs, including the dismissals of Jaiswal and Jurel. Josh Tongue’s sharp inswingers troubled the Indian batsmen, claiming the wickets of Sudharsan and Jadeja in quick succession. Chris Woakes and Jamie Overton provided steady support with accurate lines and lengths, maintaining pressure on India’s batsmen.
India’s bowling lineup remains uncertain for this Test, with Jasprit Bumrah’s participation still unconfirmed due to his back injury. Akash Deep, who performed admirably in Bumrah’s absence earlier in the series, has been recalled to strengthen the seam attack. The Indian bowling coach and captain will be looking to find the right balance to counter England’s batting lineup, which includes Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Zak Crawley, all eager to capitalize on the home advantage.
The match’s progression is likely to be heavily influenced by weather conditions, with Accuweather predicting an 86% chance of rain and 26% probability of thunderstorms on the opening day alone. The cloud cover and damp pitch conditions are expected to persist throughout the Test, potentially favoring the bowlers and making batting a challenging prospect. Both teams will need to adapt their strategies accordingly.
For India, the 5th Test is a must-win to avoid defeat in the series and to keep their remarkable run in England alive. The young captain Shubman Gill has shown promising form, but his team needs to support him with consistent performances, particularly in the bowling department. England, on the other hand, despite missing their inspirational leader Stokes, will rely on their depth and home conditions to close out the series.
As the teams prepare for the next sessions, all eyes will be on Karun Nair, who carries the responsibility of anchoring the innings and playing a big knock to rescue India from a precarious position. The match promises to be an enthralling contest, with the series hanging in the balance and the weather adding an unpredictable element to the proceedings.
Fans can catch the live telecast on the Sony Sports Network and stream the match on the JioHotstar app and website, ensuring they don’t miss any of the gripping action from the Kennington Oval.
With the cricketing world watching, the battle between India and England continues to unfold in this high-stakes finale, where every run and wicket could tip the scales in a fiercely contested series.
