India have reached the final stretch of their England tour and the finish line has drama written all over it.
After grinding out a sensational draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, the Shubman Gill-led side has now landed in London for the decider at The Oval.
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The last game of the series begins on Thursday, July 31 and India have no room for error as they must win to avoid a series defeat.
England are 2-1 ahead. But this young Indian team, coached by Gautam Gambhir, isn’t out of the fight yet and their resistance in Manchester has given them that one final shot.
Team India arrive in London ahead of Oval Test showdown
Fresh off a marathon save at Old Trafford, the Indian players touched down in London for the fifth Test. It was a relaxed arrival, but make no mistake, the pressure is real.
The series stands at 2-1 in England’s favour, and this is the final chance for India to force a draw. The match at Kennington Oval starts July 31 and ends August 4.
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The group will need to regroup quickly, especially after spending more than 150 overs in the field and batting out 143 overs in the second innings alone.
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Team India have arrived in London for the last Test match at the Oval.@BoriaMajumdar reports #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/UacUmnHx3f
How did India manage to escape defeat in Manchester?
India’s second innings began in chaos as two wickets were gone for just one run, still trailing by over 300 runs.
But what followed was sheer resilience. First, it was KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. They stitched together a 188-run partnership, fighting back session by session.
Rahul fell for 90, Gill went on to complete a memorable 103. But just when England thought they’d broken through, in walked Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
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The two all-rounders batted with composure, finishing unbeaten with a 203-run stand. Jadeja ended on a century, raising his bat with his signature sword celebration. Sundar too reached his first-ever Test hundred.
Can India still level the series at The Oval?
India will be without Rishabh Pant, who was hit on the toe during the first innings at Old Trafford. He came out to bat on Day 2 but didn’t take the field again.
In his absence, Narayan Jagadeesan has received his first Test call-up. Dhruv Jurel is expected to keep wickets again at The Oval.
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It won’t be easy for India without Rishabh. On top of it, the conditions at The Oval usually help the seamers.
However, India’s fightback in Manchester has injected belief. Coach Gautam Gambhir had once said he wants his team to be one that can "bat for two days to save a match" and that’s exactly what they did.
The series now heads to its final chapter, with all to play for in London.