India vs England: 5th Test at The Oval Begins With Drama and Rain

By Abhishek Kumar

The Oval, London | July 31, 2025
The final and most important Test match between India and England began on Wednesday at The Oval. This is the fifth and final match of the series. England leads 2–1, and India must win this match to level the series 2–2.

England won the toss and chose to bowl first. Their regular captain, Ben Stokes, is injured, so Ollie Pope is leading the team in this match. England made several changes to their squad, including the inclusion of bowlers Chris Woakes, Jamie Overton, and Gus Atkinson.

India also made changes to their playing XI. With Rishabh Pant injured, Dhruv Jurel has taken up wicketkeeping duties. Captain Shubman Gill is under pressure to deliver a strong performance. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah was not included in the playing XI.

India had a shaky start. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (2 runs) and KL Rahul (14 runs) were dismissed early. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan then built a steady partnership, but Gill was run out for 21 runs.

Rain and bad light interrupted the match multiple times, reducing the number of overs bowled. At one point, play was halted with India at 85 for 3 in 30 overs. Weather forecasts suggest that interruptions may continue over the next few days.

By the end of Day 1, India reached 204 for 6 in 64 overs. Karun Nair remained unbeaten on 52, while Washington Sundar was not out on 19.

This match will decide the series outcome. If England wins or the match ends in a draw, they will clinch the series 3–1. However, if India wins, the series will be drawn 2–2. The pressure is intense on both sides.

Interestingly, India has now lost the toss 15 times in a row in Test cricket — a streak that has become a major talking point.