India will look to draw the five-match series 2-2 when they take on England in the final Test starting Thursday at The Oval. The match has already seen off-field drama, with tensions flaring between the Indian team and the Oval’s chief curator, Lee Fortis, during the pitch inspection.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly took issue with India being asked to maintain distance from the playing surface, which the visitors perceived as unfair. While the Oval is known to favour batters, the Indian camp believes the incident reflects discriminatory behaviour.
No Bumrah; England struggle without Stokes
India’s biggest setback heading into the Test is the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested due to workload management. Arshdeep Singh could be in line for a debut, while Akash Deep, who missed the last Test, is also in contention.
Kuldeep Yadav may also be considered, but with Rishabh Pant unavailable, the team might prioritise batting depth. Dhruv Jurel will continue behind the stumps.
On the batting front, captain Shubman Gill and K.L. Rahul are in form. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar have provided stability in the middle order with recent centuries.
England, on the other hand, face a bigger crisis with Ben Stokes ruled out due to a shoulder muscle injury. “The risk was way too high for damaging this any further,” said Stokes, expressing disappointment at missing out. Ollie Pope will captain the side.
Changes on both sides as series reaches climax
England have made four changes: Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue come in. Archer and Carse have been rested, and Liam Dawson is left out due to seam-friendly conditions.
For India, the final Test presents an opportunity to finish a learning-heavy tour on a high. Though Gambhir refrains from calling it a team in transition, the series has tested a new core of players.
With both teams reshuffling, the result will hinge on which side adapts better to the pressure — and the pitch. A 2-2 draw would be a respectable outcome for an Indian team missing several key names.
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