The fifth and final Test match between India and England is set to begin on July 31, 2025, at the Kennington Oval in London. The series currently stands at 2-1 in favor of England, making this a crucial match for both teams. India needs to win to draw the series, while England needs to win or draw to secure the series victory.
Live Streaming Details
The India vs. England 5th Test will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network in India. Live streaming will also be available on the JioHotstar app and website. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM IST.
Weather Report
The weather forecast for the first day of the Test match predicts a high chance of precipitation, with overcast skies and high humidity. According to weather.com, there is a 77% chance of rain on Day 1, with afternoon showers expected. AccuWeather predicts a 65% chance of showers with 93% cloud cover. Thunderstorms are also expected in the afternoon. Days 2 and 3 are expected to be better with less rain, but temperatures will be cold, aiding the pacers. There are also chances of rain on Days 4 and 5.
Playing XI
England has already announced their playing XI, with four changes made to the team. Ben Stokes has been ruled out due to a shoulder injury, and Ollie Pope will captain the side. Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue have been included in the playing XI.
England's Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.
India is expected to make at least two changes to their playing XI. Rishabh Pant is ruled out due to injury, and Dhruv Jurel is likely to replace him as the wicketkeeper. Jasprit Bumrah may be rested to manage his workload, with Arshdeep Singh potentially making his Test debut.
Predicted India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Oval is considered one of the best in England. It traditionally assists seamers on Day 1, favors batting on Days 2 and 3, and offers some turn for spinners on the final two days. Seamers have dominated this domestic season, taking 131 of the 150 wickets in 5 games. The average score since 2019 has been less than 300 across all four innings, suggesting a low-scoring affair favoring seamers.
Other Details
Tensions have flared ahead of the Test, with Gautam Gambhir involved in a heated exchange with the Oval curator, Lee Fortis. India trails the series 1-2 and needs to win the final Test to level the series. England requires a win or draw to win the series.
