England Takes Early Edge: India Struggles at 72/2 in 5th Test

London, Jul 31 (PTI): In a rain-interrupted opening session of the fifth Test at The Oval on Thursday, England managed to make significant inroads into the Indian batting lineup, leaving the visitors at 72 for 2. Ollie Pope captained England, and the home side seized early momentum when pacer Gus Atkinson struck, trapping opener Yashasvi Jaiswal leg before wicket for just 2 runs. This early dismissal gave England the upper hand in the morning exchanges.

Another blow was dealt by Chris Woakes, who disrupted KL Rahul's cautious innings on 14 runs, leaving India wavering at 38 for 2. The pace and precision of England’s bowlers put India on the back foot, demanding a recovery from the visiting team. However, Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill took charge, putting together a partnership to steady the ship. Sudharsan remained unbeaten on 25, while Gill played a supporting role with an unbeaten 15, as they constructed a crucial 34-run stand for the third wicket. Their resilience was apparent under challenging, overcast conditions.

An unexpected shower curtailed the proceedings a few minutes before the lunch break, sending players back to the pavilion for an early lunch. India, trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series, opted for a refreshed lineup by making four changes. Dhruv Jurel, Karun Nair, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna were brought in to replace the injured Rishabh Pant, along with Shardul Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, and Jasprit Bumrah who were left out.

Brief Scores: India 72 for 2 in 23 overs (Sai Sudharsan 25 not out, Shubman Gill 15 not out; Chris Woakes 1/28).

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