Sandy Verma
Tezzbuzz|31-07-2025
England and India are set to clash in a high-stakes 5th Test at the iconic Kennington Oval in London, as part of India’s tour of England. England currently lead the series 2-1, putting them in a strong position to clinch their first Test series win against India in seven years, while India will be desperate to level the series and avoid defeat. England’s lineup features a mix of attacking batters like Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett opening, with experienced players like Joe Root and Harry Brook anchoring the middle order.
Captain Ollie Pope leads the side, supported by a bowling attack including Chris Woakes, Jamie Overtonand Josh Tongue. India counters with a strong batting lineup led by captain Shubman Gillwho has been a prolific run-scorer this series. Other key players include Kl satisfied, Ravindra Jadajaand the pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj, as Jasprit bumrah is likely to be rested.
The Oval has historically been a venue where batting becomes easier after the initial sessions, setting the stage for a potentially high-scoring and dramatic final Test. The series outcome hinges on whether England can leverage home conditions and bowling depth to close out the match or if India’s resilience and spin prowess will force a decider. This final Test is expected to be a thrilling encounter filled with records, high-pressure moments, and significant implications for both teams’ legacies in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.
The pitch at the Kennington Oval is expected to be a classic batting-friendly surface initially, offering good bounce and carry for the batters. Early sessions usually favour stroke play, allowing batters to settle and build innings. As the match progresses over days, the pitch tends to wear and assist spin bowlers, with more turn and variable bounce coming into play. Reverse swing could also become a factor for the pace bowlers in the later stages. This combination offers an intriguing contest between bat and ball, with spinners playing a significant role in the middle and final sessions. Weather conditions are forecasted to be clear and mild, further aiding a fair contest between bat and ball throughout the Test. This pitch is expected to support a balanced game where both teams’ strengths in batting and spin bowling can be pivotal.
ENG vs IND Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice Captain:
Jasprit Birra, Olilie Pope, Koldeep Yadave, Zak Crawley
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kl Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (C), Narayan Jagadeesan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Anshul Kamboj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Abhimanyy Easwaran, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Prasid Krishna, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (WK)