India is set for a final showdown against England in the fifth Test at the Oval, beginning today, with the series poised at 2-1 in favor of the hosts. The visitors, coached by Gautam Gambhir and led by Shubman Gill, aim to level the series. However, England, under the stand-in captain Ollie Pope, will be looking to seal the series win in front of their home crowd.
Stokes' Absence and England's Changes
England will be without their captain, Ben Stokes, who has been ruled out due to a shoulder injury. Stokes, who has been a key player for England with both bat and ball, has been sidelined with a grade three muscle tear. Jofra Archer is also missing from the squad, with England making four changes to their playing XI. Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue have been included in the team. With Stokes absent, Ollie Pope will lead the side.
India's Strategy and Potential Line-up
India, on the other hand, will be without Jasprit Bumrah, who is being rested as part of workload management. Rishabh Pant has also been ruled out of the Test after suffering a fractured toe. Dhruv Jurel is expected to replace Pant as the wicketkeeper. Arshdeep Singh is likely to make his Test debut. In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav is anticipated to replace Shardul Thakur. India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, has indicated that India will stick to their strategy of playing six bowlers, with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar providing all-round options.
Pitch and Toss Factors
The pitch at the Oval is expected to favor fast bowlers, especially with the cloudy conditions. If India wins the toss, they will likely choose to bowl first.
Series Context and Key Battles
India will be looking to draw inspiration from their performance in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, where centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar helped them secure a draw. The series has been closely contested, with all four matches going down to the wire. The absence of Ben Stokes will be a significant blow for England, but India will still need to be at their best to win the Test and level the series.
The final Test promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams determined to finish the series on a high.
