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The fifth and final Test between India and England is set for a thrilling conclusion on the last day after bad light and rain brought an early end to Day 4. England need just 35 runs to win the match, aiming to secure a 3-1 series victory. India, on the other hand, needs four wickets to level the series at 2-2.
India mounted a brilliant comeback after the match seemed to be slipping away. The contest looked all but over when Joe Root and Harry Brook both scored masterful centuries, but the Indian bowlers fought back with their backs against the wall. Akash Deep broke the menacing partnership in the second session, dismissing Brook after the English batter attempted one aggressive shot too many.
The real turnaround came in the third session. Prasidh Krishna infused hope into the Indian camp by cleaning up Jacob Bethell for just five runs, with England still 42 runs away from victory. The hope became a more realistic possibility when Krishna found the edge of Joe Root, and Dhruv Jurel took a great diving catch to his right. With Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna piling on the pressure, the Indian crowd at The Oval roared in support. However, bad light forced an early end to play, leaving the match perfectly poised for a dramatic finish on the final day.
Chris Woakes to come to bat on Day 5, Joe Root reveals
The fifth and final Test is heading into a dramatic final day, with England needing 35 runs to win and India requiring four wickets to secure a tie in the series. With the outcome still uncertain, all eyes are on whether Chris Woakes will be able to bat if needed.
Woakes was initially ruled out of the Test after sustaining a shoulder injury in the first innings while diving to save a boundary on the opening day. The England Cricket Board (ECB) had confirmed that he would take no further part in the Oval Test. However, Root provided a positive update in the post-match press conference, confirming that Woakes is ready to bat if the team needs him on the final day.
"You probably saw him in his whites in the dressing room — he's all in, like the rest of us. It's been that kind of series where guys have had to put their bodies on the line. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that, but he had some throwdowns in here at one point and he's ready if needed... Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain after what he’s been through. As we've seen from others in this series — a guy with a broken foot, guys taking all sorts of blows — it means a lot to him. It just shows the character and the kind of person he is, that he's willing to put his body on the line for England. Hopefully he doesn’t have to, but if it comes to that, he’ll help us get across the line and win an incredible series," Root said at the post-match press conference.
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