India vs England 5th Test: Final chance for Karun Nair

India vs England 5th Test: The 5th and final Test match between India and England in the “Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy” series is indeed starting today, Thursday, July 31, 2025, at The Kennington Oval in London. India vs England 5th Test: Final chance for Karun Nair.

Karun Nair is set to get another chance in the Indian playing XI for the 5th and final Test against England, which begins today, July 31, 2025, at The Oval. This comes after he was dropped for the 4th Test at Old Trafford due following a string of low scores in the first three matches of the series, where he managed just 131 runs in six innings.

His initial comeback to Test cricket, after an eight-year gap, hadn’t gone as hoped. However, recent reports indicate that India is likely to make four changes for this crucial decider. Karun Nair is expected to replace pace all-rounder Shardul Thakur, with the team management reportedly looking to bolster the batting lineup.

This is despite his recent struggles, suggesting the team is willing to back the veteran batter one more time, especially given his strong domestic performances leading up to this series. The series currently stands at 2-1 in England’s favor, so India will be under pressure to win this final Test to draw the “Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

” This makes the selection of Karun Nair even more significant, as the team clearly believes his batting can make a difference in this vital match.

Venue: The Kennington Oval, London

Dates: July 31 – August 4, 2025

Match Start Time (IST): 3:30 PM IST (Toss at 3:00 PM IST)

Series Status: England leads 2-1, so India needs to win this match to level the series.

Weather: There’s a significant threat of rain, especially on Day 1 and Day 2, with the UK Met Office even issuing a yellow warning for thunderstorms. This could lead to delayed starts and interruptions.

Team Changes:

England: Already announced their XI. They will be without their regular captain Ben Stokes (injured) and Jofra Archer (rested). Ollie Pope will captain. They’ve made four changes, bringing in Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue.

India: Rishabh Pant is out injured, and Dhruv Jurel is expected to keep wickets. There are strong indications that Karun Nair will return to the batting lineup, likely replacing Shardul Thakur. Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested due to workload management, with Akash Deep and possibly Prasidh Krishna or Arshdeep Singh coming in.

Pitch: The Oval pitch is expected to have a green tinge, offering assistance to seam bowlers, especially early on.

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