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India pacers pushed England on the back foot with wickets and tight bowling on Day 4 as the visitors made comeback after Joe Root and Harry Brook’s tons. Many believed that India had the upper hand before the Day 4’s play was called off due to bad light and rain, former India pacer Varun Aaron believes that the bowlers will welcome the break. Aaron believes India can win the Oval Test and level the series.
“Even a 10–15 minute extra break can do wonders for a team. It (the break on Sunday due to rain) gave the players time to regroup in the dressing room, talk strategy, and recover physically. I’m sure the message in the room was clear—‘We’ve worked too hard over the past 60 days to let this game slip.’ This team has travelled all the way from India and dominated large parts of the series. A series draw is the least they deserve. A loss from this position would really hurt. But after that spirited bowling spell post-tea, I genuinely believe India are now in a position to win this match,” Aaron said on JioHotstar as he was asked whether Indian bowlers will be happy that they couldn’t finish the match on Day 4.
Aaron praises Krishna for forcing Bethell’s erratic shot
Aaron lauded Prasidh Krishna for honing in on his lines, especially against Jacob Bethell. Krishna did not give easy singles to Bethell and the pressure got the better of the youngster as he went for an expansive shot and got bowled.
“Bowling the right length was key because Jacob Bethell didn’t look comfortable at all. The way he stepped out was a clear sign of pressure. Prasidh wasn’t giving away easy singles, and I think Bethell’s approach disrupted England’s momentum. Until then, Harry Brook and Joe Root were rotating strike well and picking up boundaries. But the moment Bethell came in, it felt like a full stop in their innings. He couldn’t absorb the pressure—either trying to hit a four or just defending, with nothing in between. That dismissal—and more importantly, the quiet period leading up to it—brought India right back into the game,” Aaron said.
Wankhede vibes at The Oval
As India made comeback in the fifth Test, Aaron lauded the Indian supporters in the crowd for turning up in huge numbers. At one point, he felt he wasn't in London, but Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
“Talking about the fans, it really felt like I was watching the game at Wankhede. There were Ganpati chants, India chants—I couldn’t hear the English supporters at all. The Indian supporters are out in huge numbers, and I think it’s their energy that the Indian team is feeding off. Siraj and Prasidh bowled five high-intensity overs each after tea, and that effort resulted in two crucial wickets. Siraj was quite unlucky, as he has been throughout the day—he bowled unbelievably well. So many of his deliveries hit the pad, but he just didn’t get the LBW calls. England now find themselves in a tough spot, and I genuinely feel this break is going to do India a world of good. The bowlers get to rest, stretch, have a massage, and get some treatment from the physios. They can come back fresh and give it everything again. This post-tea session has been brilliant—accurate bowling, smart captaincy by Shubman Gill who didn’t allow easy singles, and two very important wickets,” the 35-year-old said.
Woakes ready to bat on Day 5
India need four more wickets to win the final Test of the series. After Day 4’s play, Joe Root revealed in the press conference that Chris Woakes will bat if the need arises, despite the dislocated shoulder.
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