As the fifth and final Test between India and England heads into its last day at The Oval, England stand on the brink of a series-clinching victory. Needing just 35 more runs with four wickets in hand, the hosts are firm favourites to close out a 3-1 win. Meanwhile, India require a near-miracle to turn the match around and level the series.Rain and bad light brought an early end to play on Day 4, with England cruising at 339/6, thanks to a dominant 195-run partnership between Joe Root (105) and Harry Brook (111). The pair dismantled India’s bowling attack and made the target of 374 look well within reach.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Reacting to the match situation and India’s overall performance in the series, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar didn’t mince his words during a discussion on Sony Sports Network.“Overall, if you add up all the games, it’s a bit like that – one team has won more games, the other more sets,” Gavaskar said, drawing a tennis analogy to compare match outcomes with momentum shifts.
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He added firmly: “You could say that, but at the end of the day, it’s the result that matters. Unless India win this game and level the series, you have to admit that England are the better team. It doesn’t matter how many sessions you’ve won.”It’s a sobering assessment for an Indian side that has shown flashes of dominance throughout the series but struggled to sustain pressure when it mattered most.With only one day left and little margin for error, India will need a sensational bowling performance or some help from the weather to salvage a draw.
