Rain, Drama, and Early Wickets Mark Tense Start to Oval Test
So, day one of the fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval got off to a spicy start—both on and off the field. With the series still open, tensions were high and anticipation even higher. England won the toss and, with grey skies overhead and a lush green pitch beneath, it was an easy call for Ollie Pope to put India in to bat first. And boy, did the bowlers make that decision look smart early on.
India’s top order, which has had its moments this series, came out with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening. But things unraveled fast. Gus Atkinson, playing at his home ground, made an immediate impact, trapping Jaiswal lbw with a beautiful full delivery that had the ball nipping back just enough. A sharp review later, Jaiswal was on his way for just two runs.
It didn’t take long before Chris Woakes joined the party. He got Rahul, who’d looked solid for 14 runs, with an inside edge onto the stumps after a misjudged cut shot. That left India wobbling at 38 for 2. Enter Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, trying to steady the innings. Gill, as always, looked composed and was starting to settle in, while Sudharsan—who knows this ground well from his time with Surrey—showed some classy touches, including a lovely on-drive to the boundary.
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But just as things were beginning to stabilize, the British summer had its say. Out of nowhere, the heavens opened up and the players were forced off for an early lunch. Covers rushed on, umbrellas came out, and just like that, the momentum of the game hit a pause.
has to win to square the series. Meanwhile, England’s reshuffled bowling lineup—without Stokes—actually looked sharp. Tongue, Overton, and Atkinson each had their moments, and Woakes, despite mixed reviews recently, got a key breakthrough.
And there’s the subplot of Shubman Gill creeping up on history—he only needs a hundred here to go past Don Bradman’s record for most runs in a series. Imagine the drama if he’s just a few short going into the last session of day five, and England try to shake for a draw.
All in all, it’s been an unpredictable, intriguing day. Rain may have stolen some playtime, but it certainly hasn’t dampened the stakes or the intensity of this Test. Plenty more action to come.
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