The India vs England 5th Test Day 1 got underway with a lot of excitement at The Oval in London. England won the toss and quickly put India in to bat under cloudy skies. The pitch had a green tinge, and the overcast weather offered swing from the start. As expected, England’s bowlers didn’t waste time. They struck early and often.
First, KL Rahul opened with Sudharsan, but he couldn’t settle. Josh Tongue removed him for 14. Soon after, Sudharsan edged one behind off Gus Atkinson for 38. Consequently, the pressure kept mounting. Then came a crucial moment. Shubman Gill, returning from a rain delay, miscalculated a run. A direct hit sent him back for 21. His dismissal left India in trouble at 98/3.
Moreover, rain interrupted play several times. The players went off for an early lunch and later again for tea. However, when the game resumed, England stayed sharp. Ravindra Jadeja fell for 9. Suddenly, India stood at 123/5. Their top order had collapsed yet again. But then, Karun Nair walked in.
From the moment he arrived, Nair looked focused. He left the ball well, judged line and length smartly, and played with patience. Meanwhile, he built a steady stand with Washington Sundar. Their partnership brought calm after the storm. Together, they added 51 runs. This stand helped India recover and pushed the score past 200.
Eventually, Karun Nair brought up his half-century with a sharp boundary. His 52* came off 98 balls and included seven well-placed fours. He didn’t take risks but punished poor deliveries. At the same time, Sundar remained steady at the other end. He backed up Nair with a solid 19 runs off 45 balls, skillfully rotating the strike and keeping the England bowlers at bay.
Despite England’s good bowling, they missed the injured Chris Woakes. In the 57th over, he exited the field due to a suspected shoulder injury. As a result, England lacked control in the final session. Woakes’ absence made a clear difference.
Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue did a fantastic job leading the English attack. Atkinson picked up 2 wickets for 31 runs and bowled with discipline. Tongue was slightly expensive but managed to claim two big wickets. Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley bowled in patches but didn’t trouble the batters much.
The weather didn’t help either side. Unfortunately, only 64 overs could be played on the first day because of several rain delays. Still, both teams made the most of the limited play. Even though England had the upper hand in the first two sessions, India put up a fight in the third.
India’s Batting Score in 5th test Dat 1 – 204/6, 64 overs
| Players | Run | Ball | 4s | SR |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 2 | 9 | 0 | 22.22 |
| KL Rahul | 14 | 40 | 1 | 35 |
| Sai Sudharsan | 38 | 108 | 6 | 35.18 |
| Shubman Gill | 21 | 35 | 4 | 60 |
| Karun Nair* | 52 | 98 | 7 | 53.06 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 9 | 13 | 1 | 69.23 |
| Dhruv Jurel | 19 | 40 | 2 | 47.5 |
| Washington Sundar* | 19 | 45 | 2 | 42.22 |
| TOTAL | 204 (6wkt, 64ov) | – | – | |
England’s Bowling in the 5th Test Day 1
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Gus Atkinson | 19 | 31 | 2 | 1.63 |
| Josh Tongue | 13 | 47 | 2 | 3.62 |
| Chris Woakes | 14 | 46 | 1 | 3.29 |
| Jamie Overton | 16 | 66 | 0 | 4.13 |
| Jacob Bethell | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Notably, Karun Nair’s knock stood out. After being in and out of the Test team for years, he grabbed this chance with both hands. His calm presence at the crease steadied India when they needed it most. He absorbed pressure and turned the momentum.
Looking ahead, Day 2 holds great importance. India will aim to stretch their total to at least 270+. With only four wickets left, Nair and Sundar must continue their resistance. On the other hand, England will look to wrap things up early and take the batting advantage under better conditions.
In conclusion, India vs England 5th Test Day 1 reminded us that grit can turn the tide in Test cricket. Karun Nair’s patient half-century gave India a fighting chance after a shaky start. Therefore, all eyes are now on Day 2 to see which side takes control.
