India closed the opening day of the fifth Test against England at The Oval on 204 for 6, surviving a mix of rain, seam movement, and inconsistent bowling from the hosts.
Only 64 overs were possible on Thursday. England had chosen to field first on a green surface with 8 millimeters of grass, and early overcast conditions offered plenty of movement. But their attack, featuring three relatively inexperienced seamers, lacked control for long stretches. The 30 extras they conceded played a role in India holding firm.
It was a return years in the making. Finally back in the Test side, Karun Nair stepped up to anchor the innings, finishing with a resolute 52 not out.
His last fifty came more than eight years ago. Washington Sundar supported him with 19 not out as the pair guided India to the close without further loss.
England’s fast bowlers shared the six wickets. Gus Atkinson, making his first appearance of the series after a hamstring injury, impressed with 2 for 31, including the early dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal. Josh Tongue took 2 for 47, though his spell was a mix of loose deliveries and wicket-taking balls. Jamie Overton and Chris Woakes went wicketless on a day when conditions offered them help.
Shubman Gill looked fluent and passed Sunil Gavaskar’s record for most runs in a Test series as an Indian captain before being run out by a direct hit from Atkinson. His 204 runs in this series reflect a new maturity at the top of the order, though his exit at 23 halted India’s momentum.
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Sai Sudharsan, batting on his county home ground, made 38 from 108 deliveries, showing improvement against the inswingers that troubled him earlier in the series. He eventually fell to a sharp delivery from Tongue after surviving several testing spells.
Rain interrupted play multiple times, offering England’s bowlers some rest but breaking their rhythm. The outfield was slippery, and several seamers struggled with their landing spots, forcing ground staff to apply sawdust to prevent further mishaps.
The day ended on a sour note for England after Chris Woakes went down hard on his left shoulder in a desperate dive for the boundary. He walked off the field with his arm in a makeshift sling, and with scans scheduled overnight, he’s now a major doubt for the rest of the Test.
At stumps, Nair and Sundar had managed to pull India out of a tough spot. So, England’s plan for tomorrow is simple: take the last few wickets fast. But with the pitch still doing a bit, India knows that any contribution from the tail-enders could be absolutely vital.
