India were in a commanding position at the end of Day 3 of the fifth Test match of the five-match series at The Oval. A superb century by Yashasvi Jaiswal, along with his solid partnership with Akash Deep—who also scored a half-century—put India in a strong position during the first half of the day. Another half-century from Ravindra Jadeja and a blazing knock by Washington Sundar further consolidated India’s dominance in the match.

Gus Atkinson (3/127) and Josh Tongue (5/125) eventually wrapped up the Indian innings just under 400. However, the biggest setback for England came with the dismissal of Zak Crawley in the final over of Day 3. Now, England need 324 runs to win, while India require nine wickets to level the series.

India Hold the Edge Going Into Day Five

India are slightly ahead going into the final day. This advantage comes largely due to the efforts of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. Jaiswal hit his sixth Test century, setting the tone for India's dominance. Akash Deep, promoted as nightwatchman, shocked England with a counter-attacking maiden half-century. Jadeja continued his fine form with the bat, crossing 500 runs for the series. Towards the end, Washington Sundar played a blazing cameo that increased India’s lead to 374, adding nearly 40 runs in just five overs.

England’s History Offers Hope

England will not be daunted by the target. They have chased down large scores before. Earlier in the series, they successfully chased 371 runs. Three years ago, they reached 378 against India at Edgbaston. This experience will give them belief. On Saturday, their opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett quickly added 50 runs. They looked confident despite the steep target.

Siraj Strikes Late to Shift Momentum

However, the final over of the day changed everything. Crawley’s dismissal just before stumps gave India a major boost. Mohammed Siraj, India's last senior pacer still in action, produced a brilliant yorker to clean up Crawley. Earlier in the over, he had moved a fielder to deep square leg to trick the batter, only to follow it with a 135 kmph toe-crusher that smashed into the off stump. That late strike tilted the game strongly in India’s favour.

High-Stakes Battle Ahead on Sunday

As the fifth day begins, both teams will face a tough test of character and skill. For India, managing to level the series under new leadership—after trailing 2-1—would be a remarkable achievement. For England, a win would mark their first series victory against a top-tier team since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over as captain and coach.

England’s Young Bowlers Tested to the Limit

Saturday was a hard day for England’s bowlers. With Chris Woakes unavailable, the attack depended heavily on three inexperienced pacers—Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Jamie Overton. These three bowled 79 of India’s 88 overs. Captain Ollie Pope rotated them as best he could, but without a frontline spinner, the burden was too much. Their struggle worsened as England dropped six catches, giving Indian batters more chances and allowing the total to grow.

Akash Deep Surprises with Aggressive Knock

Akash Deep, who came out as nightwatchman the previous evening, grabbed his chance on Saturday morning. After defending the first two deliveries, he smashed the third for four and didn’t look back. He played with full confidence, celebrating emotionally after reaching his half-century. England almost removed him twice in one over. Tongue’s LBW appeal was rejected and confirmed by DRS, and Crawley dropped the next ball at slip. Eventually, Overton dismissed him, but not before Akash Deep added 107 crucial runs with Jaiswal.

Jaiswal Steers India with Class and Patience

While Akash Deep played the attacking role, Jaiswal remained composed and kept the scoreboard ticking. He played several shots behind square on the off-side and was quick to punish loose balls. After lunch, he reached his century with a single in the same area. This century bookended his England tour, where he’s been one of the standout performers.

Gill and Nair Depart Early

Soon after lunch, Shubman Gill’s impressive series came to an end. He was out on the very first ball after the break, struck on the pads by Atkinson. Despite scoring 754 runs in the series—second only to Sunil Gavaskar among Indian batters—he couldn’t score more than 21 in his four innings in London.

Karun Nair followed not long after. Atkinson dismissed him for 17. Nair had a difficult stay, getting hit on the glove first ball and dropped on 12 before edging one behind. His return to Test cricket now looks unlikely to continue beyond this game.

Jaiswal Falls but India Keep Building

Jaiswal got another life when Duckett dropped him at leg gully, but his luck soon ran out as he holed out at deep point on 118. Still, India kept adding runs. Ravindra Jadeja survived an LBW decision after a successful review and then partnered Dhruv Jurel to add 50 runs for the seventh wicket. England, out of ideas, turned to part-time spinners to break the partnership.

Old Ball Still Offers Help for England

Despite the pitch flattening out, England found some swing with the old ball. Overton trapped Jurel with one that moved away late. Tongue came back and nearly wrapped up the innings. He got Jadeja to steer a catch to Brook at point. Siraj was wrongly given out LBW, but India had no reviews left to challenge the inside edge.

Washington Ends with a Bang

Washington Sundar played fearlessly in the final moments. He took the attack to England, hitting four sixes in just 12 balls. It seemed like Harry Brook’s earlier advice—“get on with it”—was still ringing in his ears. Sundar brought up a half-century off only 39 balls and, with Prasidh Krishna, added 39 valuable runs for the final wicket. He was eventually caught at midwicket by Crawley, giving Tongue his fifth wicket of the innings.

England’s Openers Face Early Test

In the final session, Duckett and Crawley had 14 overs to lay the foundation for the chase. Indian captain Shubman Gill made it clear that he didn’t want a repeat of England’s aggressive first-innings start. He placed a deep point fielder immediately to cut off boundaries. Siraj was held back initially but returned to bowl late in the day—and that decision proved spot on when he dismissed Crawley in the final over.

All Eyes on the Final Day

As the series reaches its final day, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion. India are aiming for a comeback that would reflect resilience and new leadership strength. England are chasing history with a massive fourth-innings target. One way or another, Sunday will bring a dramatic end to a hard-fought series.

Brief Scorecard