After an epic fightback in the fourth Test, one for the ages! India managed to hold England to a draw, keeping the series alive at 2-1. And now, today, it’s time for the fifth and final showdown at The Oval. Before the teams walk out for this much-anticipated decider, let’s take a step back and look at India record at The Oval, and what kind of lineups we might see from both sides.

Related Match：ENG vs IND 2025 5th Test of the India tour of England series on 07/31 at 03:30 PM IST

How Has India Fared at The Oval?

Let’s get straight to the numbers. Here’s a quick look at India record at The Oval in Test matches:

So, not exactly a fortress for India, but they’ve had their moments. Their last outing at The Oval against England came in 2021, and it was a classic. After being bowled out for 191 in the first innings, India clawed their way back thanks to a ton from Rohit Sharma and key knocks from Pujara and Pant. Set a stiff target of 368, England folded for 210, and India walked away with a famous win. Can they do it again?

The Oval Pitch! pic.twitter.com/To1sWwXWNf

— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) July 29, 2025

What’s The Deal with The Oval?

The Kennington Oval, more commonly just “The Oval,” is one of England’s most iconic cricket venues. It hosted England’s first-ever Test at home and was also where The Ashes legend was born. Pitch conditions? Here’s the lowdown:

• Great for batting, especially early on.
• Teams usually prefer to bat first after winning the toss.
• Fast bowlers don’t get much joy here.
• It’s more of a spinner’s paradise as the game progresses.

Some massive scores have been posted on this ground. England once racked up 903/7 declared! Expect high scores early, but spinners will love the later stages. That makes team selection pretty interesting.

Manchester ✅

Hello London 👋#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/OPsWZIhXjZ

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 28, 2025

Predicted India Playing XI for 5th Test

Let’s talk about the India playing XI for 5th Test, and what the team could look like after the drama of Manchester.

Openers: KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal

Rahul has been solid all series, while Jaiswal has looked good but needs a big score. These two will be key to setting the tone.

Middle Order: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk)

Gill has led with composure and will be eyeing a personal milestone. Sundar and Jadeja, after their heroics in the 4th Test, are set to play major roles again. And with Pant out injured, young Jurel takes the gloves.

#INDvsENG | Arshdeep Singh is back and fully fit ahead of the Oval Test! 💪

Will the left-arm quick secure a spot in the 🇮🇳 playing XI for the series finale vs England?

FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/9veBW5nW5Q pic.twitter.com/DUTPdgXlgL

— TOI Sports (@toisports) July 29, 2025

Bowling Unit: Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj

Jasprit Bumrah is being rested, so expect Arshdeep to make his Test debut. Siraj will lead the attack, while Akash Deep gets another shot after replacing Anshul Kamboj, who didn’t perform well in the previous Test.

Jasprit Bumrah will not play the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval starting on Thursday pic.twitter.com/y5X8QwpTJy

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 29, 2025

With Sundar and Jadeja handling the spin duties, India’s bowling attack will need to adapt quickly to The Oval’s slow-ish track. All eyes on the debutant to see how he handles the big stage. And there you have the most likely India playing XI for 5th Test, a side that’s mixed with grit, fresh faces, and a hunger to square the series.

England make four changes for the final #ENGvIND Test.#WTC27 | More 👉 https://t.co/linFAcZAwy pic.twitter.com/nmnwWP35Hv

— ICC (@ICC) July 30, 2025

Final England Playing XI for 5th Test Confirmed

Now let’s switch over to the hosts. England have had a solid series, but they won’t want to let this one slip. So what will the England playing XI for 5th Test look like?

Openers: Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett

The opening combination remains consistent in the England playing XI for 5th Test. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have shown strong form throughout the series, with both registering fifties in Manchester. Their aggressive yet composed approach at the top has provided England with solid starts, and the management will be hoping they can do it once more in the final match at The Oval.

Gutted for the skipper, who misses out on our final Test of the summer 🙏 pic.twitter.com/LgtwXPqntE

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 30, 2025

Middle Order: Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Jamie Overton

With Ben Stokes unavailable due to injury, Ollie Pope takes over the captaincy and leads a talented middle order. Joe Root continues to be England’s most dependable run-scorer, while Harry Brook adds flair and aggression at No. 5. Jamie Smith retains the gloves, and debutant Jacob Bethell comes into the XI to replace Stokes. Bethell brings balance with his left-handed batting and part-time spin, offering flexibility in the middle overs. This reshuffled core will be vital as England push to secure the home series.

Ben Stokes will miss out on the final Test of the series with a right shoulder injury ❌

And we’ve made four changes to our side 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 30, 2025

Bowling Unit: Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue, and Gus Atkinson

The bowling lineup in the England playing XI for 5th Test features a strategic rotation to manage workloads. Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer are rested, paving the way for Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue, and Gus Atkinson to lead an all-pace attack. Without a frontline spinner, spin duties will fall to part-timers Joe Root and Jacob Bethell. The trio of fresh pacers brings pace and bounce, attributes that could be decisive at The Oval.

Conclusion

With both sides eyeing history, India hoping to level the series and England aiming to keep their home record intact, the stage is perfectly set. The pitch will test both patience and skill, the lineups are reshuffled but intriguing, and there’s just enough past drama at this venue to keep fans hooked. Whether it’s India record at The Oval that improves, or the England playing XI for 5th Test that seals the deal, we’ll find out in the following 5 days!