LONDON, July 31, 2025 – The much-anticipated fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India is set to begin today at the historic Kennington Oval in London.
With England leading the series 2-1, and India riding high after an epic escape in Manchester, this Oval Test promises a thrilling finale.
India will look to overcome their poor record at The Oval, having won only twice in 15 appearances. The last time they played here, they suffered a crushing defeat against Australia in the 2023 World Test Championship final. This time, they arrive with belief and momentum.
Shubman Gill, who has been sensational throughout the series with four centuries, including a record-breaking 269 at Edgbaston, needs just 11 runs to surpass Sunil Gavaskar’s 732-run tally, and 53 runs to break his 1971 record of 774 runs—the most by an Indian in a Test series. KL Rahul has been a consistent contributor at the top, while Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar’s resilience rescued India in Manchester.
However, India face key absences. Jasprit Bumrah is ruled out, pushing Mohammed Siraj to lead the pace attack. Dhruv Jurel is expected to keep wickets, while Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh may bring freshness to a depleted bowling lineup. India’s top-order remains shaky, with the number three position still unsettled and Yashasvi Jaiswal needing to regain focus.
England come in confident, buoyed by Joe Root’s historic rise past Ricky Ponting in all-time Test runs. Ben Stokes has delivered back-to-back Player of the Match performances, and Ben Duckett’s aggressive batting continues to provide early momentum. Their bowling, led by Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton, will test India’s resolve. England’s depth in both seam and spin gives them an edge, but late-game pressure has exposed occasional fragility.
As the pitch at The Oval is expected to start flat and later favor spinners, both teams will have to strategize smartly. For India, it’s about rewriting history at this venue. For England, it’s about sealing the series and lifting the trophy.
With pride, legacy, and the series at stake, the stage is set for a memorable Test finale at The Oval.