India’s Karun Nair interacts with England’s Joe Root after end of play on the first day of the fifth Test cricket match between India and England, at The Oval, in London, England, on July 31, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Dark grey skies, a green top, some steady spells of rain and a battle between the bat and the ball — for the first time in five weeks, both the weather and cricket felt like English.
In the series-deciding final Test at The Oval, India was inserted in after it lost its fifth toss in the series — 15th in a men’s international this year. Making the most of the conditions, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson claimed two wickets apiece before Karun Nair’s unbeaten 52 (98b, 7×4) guided India to 204 for six on Thursday.
Karun was among the four changes that India made, and the decision to play him at No. 5 paid off as he built effective partnerships with Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar after the visitors lost two wickets in the post-tea session.
Playing every ball on its merit, Karun dealt in singles while occasionally hitting the boundary to put the pressure back on the England bowling unit, which suffered a blow at the fag end as Chris Woakes hurt his shoulder and left the field.
While Karun fought hard in the final session, it was B. Sai Sudharsan, who guided India out of the woods after it was placed at 38 for two — having lost openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K.L. Rahul.
At No. 3, Sai Sudharsan dug in along with captain Shubman Gill as India crawled back before rain forced an early lunch. Coming on the back of two contrasting innings in the previous outing in Manchester, where he scored 61 followed by a duck, the left-hander showed technique against the moving ball. He remained composed before sending a few over-pitched deliveries for fours through the slip cordon.
Gill, on the other hand, approached his innings aggressively as he hit three boundaries in the first session. On the way, the Indian captain surpassed West Indies great Garry Sobers (722) to register the record for most runs by a visiting skipper in a Test series in England.
However, in the six overs that could be played in the post-lunch session, before rain interrupted again, India lost the momentum as Gill was run out for his first score past 20 and under 100 since reaching England. It was an unnecessary call, which hurt India.
Tongue found the breakthrough as Sai Sudharsanwas caught behind. Soon, the fast bowler removed Ravindra Jadeja as well. However, Jurel showed intent before playing a loose shot outside the off stump off Atkinson and was caught at second slip.
Jaiswal falls early
Earlier in the day, Jaiswal lasted just nine deliveries before he was trapped in the front by Atkinson, who was bowling from around the wicket. Atkinson, who returned to the side after two months, was certain about the dismissal, though the on-field decision was not out.
As stand-in captain Ollie Pope reviewed, the decision went in England’s favour.
Woakes castled Rahul with a hard-length ball that jagged back in and did not offer any room to cut.
However, as Karun held fort, India ended the day in a much better position.
Published – July 31, 2025 03:25 pm IST
