London: England made four changes for the crucial final Test against India at the Kennington Oval, one of them a forced decision as inspirational skipper Ben Stokes had to sit out due to an injury.
What about Team India?
Having lost his fifth toss on the trot, Shubman Gill was asked about India’s combination for the fifth Test.
“We’ve got three changes… Dhruv (Jurel) comes in for Rishabh (Pant), we’ve got Karun Nair back in for Shardul (Thakur) and Prasidh (Krishna) comes in for (Jasprit) Bumrah),” Gill told TV commentator Ravi Shastri.
As it turned out, it was a complete brainfade moment for Gill. He completely forgot about the fourth change that he and the team management had effected from the drawn Manchester Test – a fit-again Akash Deep replacing Anshul Kamboj.
On losing all tosses in this series – India have now lost 15 tosses in a row across formats — Gill said he didn’t mind as long as India win the game.
England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope had no hesitation in opting to bowl first under grey skies and on a pitch with a greenish tinge.
Most experts felt it was a no-brainer that the skipper calling correctly at the toss of coin would ask the rival team to bat first. Gill, however, said he was a bit confused about what to do.
“It was a bit overcast but the wicket looks good… we’ll look to post good runs in the first innings,” Gill said.
Watch the video clip of captains’ interviews post the toss:
15 CONSECUTIVE TOSS LOSSES FOR INDIA. pic.twitter.com/4KmPS0Rj7s
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 31, 2025
Team India kept the series alive with a fighting draw in the fourth Test. After conceding a massive 311-run first-innings lead at Old Trafford last week, India were 0/2 in the first over of their second innings. But KL Rahul (90) and Shubman Gill (103) launched a miraculous fightback with a 188-run partnership, before Washington Sundar (101*) and Ravindra Jadeja (107*) frustrated Enegland bowlers with a heroic resistance on the final day in an unbeaten 203-run collaboration.
With England ahead 2-1, there’s everything to play for in the Oval Test.