India's Resilient Stand in Fifth Test Against England at The Oval

In the fifth Test at The Oval, India faced early challenges but found resilience through Captain Shubman Gill and young Sai Sudharsan. After a rain interruption, the duo steadied the innings, helping India reach 72 for 2. Despite early wickets, Gill's composed batting brought hope to the team. Read on for a detailed account of the match's unfolding drama.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 1, 2025, 02:02 IST

India's Early Struggles and Recovery

On July 31, during the first day of the fifth Test at The Oval, Captain Shubman Gill and emerging talent Sai Sudharsan played pivotal roles in India's recovery after England made significant early breakthroughs.

Following a sudden downpour that curtailed the first session, India managed to reach 72 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 23 overs, with Gill and Sudharsan remaining not out at 15 off 23 balls and 25 off 67 balls, respectively.

Prior to the match, rain had already made its presence felt twice. Under overcast skies and a slightly wet pitch, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul faced a challenging start.

With the absence of the fast bowler Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, making his return to Test cricket, troubled India's top order with his impressive pace at his home ground. An inward angling delivery caught Jaiswal just below the knee-roll of his pads.

Confusion ensued among the England players as they debated the decision, but Pope chose to trust his instincts, leaving Ben Duckett visibly frustrated.

Even Ben Stokes, the designated captain, appeared uncertain before checking the replay. The review confirmed that the ball had passed Jaiswal's bat cleanly, leading to his dismissal for a mere 2 runs off 9 balls.

Rahul attempted to stabilize the innings alongside Sudharsan during this challenging phase. The pair exercised caution as they navigated through the tough conditions.

However, India faced another setback when Chris Woakes tempted Rahul into a mistake, resulting in him chopping the ball onto his stumps and departing for 14 runs off 40 balls. His attempt to cut the ball ended up directing it straight into the stumps.

Upon entering the crease, Gill brought a sense of calm with his composed batting and strategic risks, hitting three boundaries to compensate for the early wickets lost. Just as the sun shone on The Oval, dark clouds returned, and heavy rain forced both teams to break for an early lunch.

Brief Scores: India 72/2 (Shubman Gill 15*, Sai Sudharsan 25*; Gus Atkinson 1-7) vs England.