India vs England 5th Test Day

India vs England 5th Test Day 1: Rain and Wickets Steal the Show at The Oval

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India vs England 5th Test Day 1: Rain and Wickets Steal the Show at The Oval 

 

India vs England Test match Day 1” trending like crazy. That’s because the 5th and final Test of the 2025 India tour of England kicked off on July 31 at The Oval in London. This match is a big deal—England is ahead 2-1 in the series, and India needs a win to draw it and keep the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which they’ve held since 2016. Day 1 was full of action, with early wickets, a run-out, and rain playing a big part. India ended the day at 170/6 after 53.5 overs, with Karun Nair and Washington Sundar fighting to keep their team in the game

India vs England Toss and Team Lineups 

The day started at 11:00 AM local time (3:30 PM IST) with England’s stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, winning the toss. With cloudy skies and a green pitch at The Oval, Pope chose to bowl first, hoping his fast bowlers could make the ball swing and seam. It was a smart call, as these conditions often favor bowlers, and The Oval has a history of helping pacers early on.

India’s captain, Shubman Gill, would’ve preferred to bat, but he was confident his team could handle the challenge. India made four changes to their lineup from the fourth Test, bringing in Karun Nair, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Dhruv Jurel in place of Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, Shardul Thakur, and Anshul Kamboj. These changes aimed to add batting depth and fresh pace bowling options.

India vs England 5th Test Day
India vs England 5th Test Day

India’s Playing XI

  • Yashasvi Jaiswal

  • KL Rahul

  • Shubman Gill (c)

  • Sai Sudharsan

  • Karun Nair

  • Ravindra Jadeja

  • Dhruv Jurel (wk)

  • Washington Sundar

  • Akash Deep

  • Prasidh Krishna

  • Mohammed Siraj

England’s Playing XI

  • Zak Crawley

  • Ben Duckett

  • Ollie Pope (c)

  • Joe Root

  • Ben Stokes

  • Jamie Smith (wk)

  • Liam Dawson

  • Brydon Carse

  • Jofra Archer

  • Jamie Overton

  • Shoaib Bashir

India vs England (Day 1 Action ) 

India’s innings got off to a rocky start. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul faced a tough challenge from England’s bowlers, who made the ball move under the cloudy skies. In the 4th over, Jamie Overton struck, dismissing Jaiswal for just 2 runs. Jaiswal tried to drive an outswinger but edged it to Zak Crawley at slip, leaving India at 10/1 at 11:24 AM local time (3:54 PM IST).

KL Rahul, who’s been in solid form with 521 runs in the series, came in next. He played cautiously, scoring 14 runs off 40 balls, but fell to Shoaib Bashir at 12:15 PM local time (4:45 PM IST). Bashir’s delivery spun sharply, hitting the stumps, and India were 38/2 after 15.1 overs. The early wickets put India under pressure, and England’s decision to bowl first was paying off.

Captain Shubman Gill, the series’ top scorer with 607 runs at an average of 101.16, joined Sai Sudharsan to steady the innings. Their 34-run partnership over 7.5 overs brought some calm, with Gill scoring 15* off 32 balls and Sudharsan making 25* off 56 balls. They reached 72/2 after 23 overs by 12:57 PM local time (5:27 PM IST), when rain forced an early lunch.

Play resumed briefly at 2:30 PM local time (7:00 PM IST), but Gill’s innings ended in a mix-up at 3:15 PM local time (7:45 PM IST). He was run out for 21 after a risky single off Gus Atkinson’s bowling, leaving India at 83/3 after 27.2 overs. Sudharsan continued, reaching 38, but Josh Tongue struck twice in quick succession. At 3:45 PM local time (8:15 PM IST), Tongue dismissed Sudharsan (38) with a delivery that jagged back and took an inside edge to keeper Jamie Smith. Soon after, at 4:00 PM local time (8:30 PM IST), Tongue got Ravindra Jadeja (9), who edged a sharp inswinger to Smith, leaving India at 123/5 after 39.3 overs.

Dhruv Jurel joined Karun Nair, but at 4:30 PM local time (9:00 PM IST), Jurel fell for 14 to Atkinson, who bowled a length ball that Jurel misjudged, edging it to the keeper. India were 148/6 after 48 overs. Nair (21*) and Washington Sundar (14*) fought on, taking India to 170/6 after 53.5 overs by 5:00 PM local time (9:30 PM IST), when rain returned, ending play for the day.

India vs England 5th Test Day
India vs England 5th Test Day

India vs England Weather Impact 

Rain was the day’s biggest disruptor. A downpour at 12:57 PM local time (5:27 PM IST) forced an early lunch, and further drizzle led to an early tea at 2:00 PM local time (6:30 PM IST). The ground staff used super soppers to dry the outfield, but persistent rain prevented further play after 5:00 PM local time. Only 53.5 overs were bowled, leaving 36.5 overs to be made up later. The forecast for Days 2-5 includes light rain, which could affect the match’s outcome.

India vs England Player Performances 

  • Shubman Gill (21, run out): Gill’s series form has been outstanding, with 607 runs at an average of 101.16. His run-out was a rare mistake, but his leadership remains key.

  • Sai Sudharsan (38, caught): Sudharsan’s patient 38 off 101 balls showed his potential, though he fell to Tongue’s unplayable delivery.

  • Yashasvi Jaiswal (2, caught): Jaiswal’s aggressive approach failed against Overton’s swing, ending his innings early.

  • KL Rahul (14, bowled): Rahul’s cautious 14 off 40 balls couldn’t withstand Bashir’s spin.

  • Josh Tongue (2 wickets): Tongue’s double strike, dismissing Sudharsan and Jadeja, was a game-changer for England.

  • Gus Atkinson (1 wicket): Atkinson’s dismissal of Jurel and Gill’s run-out made him a standout bowler

  • India 1st Innings Batting Scorecard

    Batsman

    Runs

    Balls

     4s

     6s

    How Dismissed

    Yashasvi Jaiswal

    		 2 9 0 0

    lbw b Atkinson

    KL Rahul

    		 14 40 1 0

    b Woakes

    Sai Sudharsan

    		 38 101 6 0

    c †Smith b Tongue

    Shubman Gill

    		 21 35 4 0

    run out (Atkinson)

    Karun Nair

    		 40 79 6 0

    not out

    Ravindra Jadeja

    		 9 13 1 0

    c †Smith b Tongue

    Dhruv Jurel

    		 14 29 2 0

    c Brook b Atkinson

    Washington Sundar

    		 6 17 1 0

    not out

    Extras

    		 36      

    (b 4, lb 6, nb 3, w 23)

    Total

    		 180/6

    56.2 overs

    		      

    England Bowling Scorecard

  • Bowler

    Overs

    Maidens

    Runs

    Wickets

    Economy

    Chris Woakes

    		 14.1 1 57 1 4.02

    Gus Atkinson

    		 14 7 23 2 1.64

    Josh Tongue

    		 11 2 37 2 3.36

    Jofra Archer

    		 10 0 33 0 3.30

    Shoaib Bashir

    		 7 0 20 0 2.86

    .

India vs England Weather Impact

Rain was the day’s biggest disruptor. A downpour at 12:57 PM local time (5:27 PM IST) forced an early lunch, and further drizzle led to an early tea at 2:00 PM local time (6:30 PM IST). The ground staff used super soppers to dry the outfield, but persistent rain prevented further play after 5:00 PM local time. Only 53.5 overs were bowled, leaving 36.5 overs to be made up later. The forecast for Days 2-5 includes light rain, which could affect the match’s outcome.

India vs England Series Context 

This series has been a thrilling contest. Here’s a quick recap:

  • 1st Test (Headingley, June 20-24): England chased 371 runs, led by Ben Duckett’s 149, to win by 10 wickets. India’s dropped catches and batting collapses hurt them.

  • 2nd Test (Edgbaston, July 2-6): India won by 336 runs, thanks to Shubman Gill’s twin centuries (269* and 161*) and Akash Deep’s 10 wickets. The series was level at 1-1.

  • 3rd Test (Lord’s, July 10-14): England won by 22 runs, despite Ravindra Jadeja’s 61*. England took a 2-1 lead.

  • 4th Test (Old Trafford, July 23-27): India secured a draw with centuries from Gill (103), KL Rahul (90), Jadeja (107*), and Washington Sundar (101*), finishing at 425/4.

With England leading 2-1, India needs a win to draw the series and retain the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. England aims for a 3-1 victory to reclaim the trophy on home soil.

India vs England 5th Test Day
India vs England 5th Test Day

India vs England Series Statistics 

Here’s a look at the top performers in the series:

Player

Team

Runs

Average

Wickets

Bowling Average

Shubman Gill

India

 607 101.16 – –

KL Rahul

India

 521 65.12 – –

Rishabh Pant

India

 479 68.42 – –

Ben Stokes

England

 – – 17 25.23

Jasprit Bumrah

India

 – – 14 26.00

Mohammed Siraj

India

 – – 14 39.71

 

India vs England Controversies and Talking Points 

No major controversies arose on Day 1, but India’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah raised eyebrows. Some fans felt it weakened the bowling attack, while others saw it as a chance for Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep to shine. Gill’s run-out also sparked debate, with analysts like Sanjay Bangar noting it was a “careless mistake” for a captain of his caliber.

India vs England What to Expect Next 

If play resumes on Day 2, India will rely on Nair and Sundar to build a big partnership. With Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar’s centuries in the last Test, India’s lower order has shown it can fight back. England will aim to wrap up India’s innings quickly, with Archer and Carse likely to exploit any remaining moisture in the pitch. The rain forecast could lead to a draw, which would favor India by letting them retain the trophy.

India vs England Historical Context 

The India-England rivalry is one of cricket’s oldest, with India holding the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy since 2016. The Oval has been a happy ground for India, with wins in 1971 and 2021. This match adds another chapter, with young stars like Gill and Sudharsan facing off against England’s experienced players like Joe Root and Ben Stokes.

READ MORE INFORMATION 

India vs England

Conclusion

Day 1 of the India vs England 5th Test was a battle of grit and weather, with India reaching 170/6 before rain ended play. England’s bowlers struck early, but Nair and Sundar kept India in the fight. With the series on the line, the next few days promise more drama. Stay tuned for updates, and let’s hope for clear skies at The Oval!

 

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