The fifth and final Test between India vs England was held at The Oval, London, from July 31 to August 1, 2025. This match was the series decider, with England already leading 3-1. The contest was dominated by England from Day 1, as they outplayed India in all departments.
After winning the toss, England elected to bowl first, taking full advantage of the pitch and overhead conditions. India, who were desperate to level the series, collapsed under pressure and managed only 224 runs in their first innings.
🔥 Day 1 – India’s Struggle
India’s innings started with early setbacks. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul failed to make an impact. Captain Rohit Sharma looked promising but fell at a crucial time. The standout performer for India was Karun Nair, who scored a patient 57 runs, marking his comeback to the side after years of absence. Washington Sundar contributed a valuable 26 runs, but the rest of the batting order couldn’t handle England’s aggressive bowling.
England’s bowling hero was Gus Atkinson, who picked up a brilliant 5-wicket haul, while Josh Tongue and others provided strong support. India ended Day 1 at 204/6, with hopes of reaching a competitive total fading quickly.
🌧️ Day 2 – England Take Control
India resumed Day 2 at 204/6 but added only 20 more runs as the last 4 wickets fell quickly. India were all out for 224 runs in just 69.4 overs.
England began their reply in a fiery fashion. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett launched an aggressive attack, putting pressure back on Indian bowlers. Crawley smashed a quick 62 runs off 50 balls, including 14 boundaries, while Duckett added 43 runs in a 92-run opening partnership.
India’s bowling lacked penetration. Only Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj managed breakthroughs, but England’s momentum was hard to stop. By lunch, England had reached 109/1, and they continued to dominate into the evening session.
🧾 Full Scorecard (As of End of Day 2)
India – 1st Innings: 224 all out (69.4 overs)
- Karun Nair – 57
- Washington Sundar – 26
- Rohit Sharma – 21
- Gus Atkinson – 5/33
- Josh Tongue – 2 wickets
England – 1st Innings: 129/2 (21.1 overs)
- Zak Crawley – 62 (50 balls)
- Ben Duckett – 43 (40 balls)
- Ollie Pope – 16* (not out)
- Akash Deep – 1 wicket
- Mohammed Siraj – 1 wicket
🌟 Top Performers
- Gus Atkinson: Match-changing 5-wicket haul in India’s first innings.
- Karun Nair: Lone warrior in India’s lineup with a fighting half-century.
- Zak Crawley: Aggressive batting gave England the perfect start.
- Ben Duckett: Supported Crawley with his attacking approach.
📈 Series Context
With this strong performance, England are in a commanding position to seal the series 4-1. India needed a win to avoid a series defeat, but their batting and bowling both failed to deliver under pressure. India vs England
🎯 Key Moments
- Karun Nair’s return to the team and gritty 57 under pressure.
- Gus Atkinson’s lethal pace dismantling India’s middle and lower order.
- England’s 100-run mark in just 14.4 overs – fastest against India.
- Zak Crawley reaching 50 in just 42 balls – one of the quickest by an opener in recent years.