India is in control of the 5th Test at The Oval, thanks to a brilliant century from Yashasvi Jaiswal, a strong effort by Akash Deep, and several dropped catches by a tired England team.
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India’s Lead Grows
After dismissing England for 224 in the first innings, India responded with a gritty 396, taking their lead to 172. The hero of the innings? Yashasvi Jaiswal, who struck a fluent 118, recorded his second century of the series. He was ably supported by Akash Deep, the debutant who turned heads with both bat and ball. His 66-run effort wasn’t just valuable, it was brave.
The duo stitched a 107-run partnership for the 8th wicket, leaving England demoralized and chasing shadows.
England Drops the Ball-Literally
On a pitch offering bounce and some seam movement, England had their chances. Unfortunately, they dropped six catches on Day 3 alone—their worst fielding display in over a decade. Missing Ben Stokes in the field due to injury, England looked flat and leaderless, a sharp contrast to their usual aggressive “Bazball” identity.
Even veteran Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow couldn’t hold on to regulation chances, and India’s total ballooned as a result.
Historic Records: India’s Batting Unit Steps Up
- Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja all crossed the 500-run mark this series, the first time in Test history that three Indian batters have done so in a single overseas series.
- KL Rahul now has 532 runs, second only to Sunil Gavaskar among Indian openers in an England series.
- Jadeja, batting at No. 6 or lower, broke Garry Sobers’ 59-year-old record for most runs in an away Test series from that position.
This wasn’t just about individual milestones-it was about resilience, character, and hunger.
Akash Deep’s Aggression Sparks Debate
While his batting drew praise, Akash Deep’s send-off to Ben Duckett stirred controversy. After dismissing the opener, he ran down the pitch and exchanged words, which many fans and former cricketers called “over the top.”
While it added drama to the match, some believe India’s debutant should show more composure. But in a high-stakes decider, emotions run high-and perhaps this was his statement moment.
England’s Injury Woes Deepen
Already missing Ben Stokes (shoulder tear), England’s problems grew worse as Chris Woakes was ruled out with a shoulder injury. This forced Ollie Pope to captain the side and brought rookie Jacob Bethell into the middle order.
England’s batting looked uncertain in the face of a steep 374-run target, and with India’s pace trio hunting in pairs, a 2–2 series draw seems closer to reality.
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SportSnip Analysis: India Smells Blood
If there’s one takeaway from this Test, it’s this: India has found a way to fight even without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, or Rishabh Pant. The new-generation players-Gill, Jaiswal, and Deep-have stepped up, supported by the ever-reliable Jadeja.
England’s Bazball formula has worked wonders at home, but this Test exposed their fielding and middle-order depth. Without Stokes to marshal them, they looked lost, despite a promising 50/1 start to the chase.
India, needing just 8 more wickets to level the series, will come hard. With the pitch showing variable bounce and overhead conditions favoring seamers, Day 4 promises a fiery finish.
Final Word
With so much on the line-the series, bragging rights, and historical this Test at The Oval might go down as one of the most dramatic deciders in modern Test history.
Will England pull off a miracle chase? Or will India’s rising stars script a famous away comeback?
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