As India gear up to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the weather in London looms large over the high-stakes fifth Test at The Oval starting Thursday (July 31). With England leading the series 2-1, Shubman Gill’s men are carrying the momentum of their spirited Manchester fightback into what promises to be a dramatic series finale—weather permitting.
Weather Watch: Rain, Thunderstorms Could Delay Start
The UK Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms on Thursday, with an 80% chance of rain just before and at the scheduled start. Morning showers could delay the toss, and heavier showers are expected between 3–5 PM. A persistent 70–80% rain threat looms throughout the day, with some relief only expected toward the end of play.
Friday may also witness more interruptions, while Saturday’s outlook remains cloudy but drier. The unpredictable weather means the toss—where India have lost four in a row—will be more crucial than ever.
India’s Road to the Oval: Resilience in Manchester
India’s escape from near-certain defeat in the fourth Test was one of grit and character. After conceding a massive 311-run lead and slumping to 0/2 in their second innings, KL Rahul (90) and Shubman Gill (103) led the resistance with a fighting stand on Day 4.
The heroics continued on Day 5 as Ravindra Jadeja (107*) and Washington Sundar (101*) soaked up pressure and batted through the day to force a draw. It was a defining show of maturity under pressure—one that has set the stage for a thrilling finale.
Oval Pitch Report: Runs Likely, If Rain Permits
The Oval surface has historically favored batting early on. In a recent County Championship game, both sides scored nearly 1500 runs combined. The average first-innings score here is a solid 343—offering hope for India’s batters if play isn’t heavily curtailed by rain.
Eyes on the Sky, Heart on the Series
As the tension builds, so does the cloud cover. For India, it’s all or nothing. But before they can think about tactics or team combinations, they’ll have to hope the skies allow enough playtime to turn resilience into redemption.
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