On Day 1 of the fifth and final Test at The Oval, India experienced a major defeat when Ravindra Jadeja got out for only 9 runs. This sent the visitors into a difficult situation. England, having won the toss and decided to bowl in overcast conditions, made the most of the receptive wicket. The Indian top order found it difficult to play against the swinging ball, and Jadeja’s loss at the early stage dented their hopes of a solid first-innings total.

The day began with rain delays, and only six overs could be bowled in the afternoon session before tea was taken early. In that short period, India lost their skipper, Shubman Gill, who was dismissed for 21 after a run-out following a single that was misjudged. Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair tried to rebuild a partnership with a gritty stand after tea, but Josh Tongue ended the stand with a brilliant ball that got Sudharsan out for 38. Soon after, he delivered another gem to get rid of Jadeja.

Jadeja walked in at number six, aiming to stabilize the innings. Tongue angled a delivery in from around the wicket. The ball straightened after pitching, took Jadeja’s outside edge, and was safely pouched by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. The all-rounder’s dismissal left India reeling at 123/5, with England firmly in control.

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Josh Tongue - the first time was so nice, he had to do it twice ✌️

(via @englandcricket) #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/CcFbntRCQe

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 31, 2025

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Tongue’s Brilliant Spell Puts India on the Back Foot

Josh Tongue has been the standout bowler in the match, grabbing 2/32 and constantly troubling batters with his bounce and movement. His removal of Jadeja marked as turning point of the session. At the time of writing, India is 137/5 in 46 overs—Karun Nair 18*, Dhruv Jurel 7*.

After showing dominance in the ongoing England vs India series, Indian batters are in top form. In the latest ICC Rankings, young Indian star Abhishek Sharma became the third Indian to reach the No.1 spot as a T20I batter in the world. Jasprit Bumrah also continued to hold the No.1 position as a bowler in the Test rankings.

Apart from the Indian batters, India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Wednesday extended his lead to stay as the world’s No.1 all-rounder in Test cricket. England bowlers Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes also made gains in the latest rankings. England batter Joe Root climbed to the top spot in the batter rankings as well.

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Jadeja Also Reached a New Career-High Rating in the Batting Charts

In the Test rankings, Ravindra Jadeja further strengthened his position as the No.1 all-rounder. His performance in Manchester — taking four wickets and scoring a gritty unbeaten 107 — earned him 13 additional rating points, taking his tally to 422. Besides this, the veteran also reached a new career-high rating in the batting charts as he moved up to No.29 in the latest rankings.

India wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant also made progress inside the top 10, moving up one place to seventh after his half-century in Manchester despite battling injury. Meanwhile, teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped three spots to eighth.

Rishabh Pant - Number 7.
Yashasvi Jaiswal - Number 8.
Shubman Gill - Number 9.
Ravindra Jadeja - Number 29.
KL Rahul - Number 36.

INDIAN TEST BATTERS IN ICC RANKINGS 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/7coFecO8XP

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 30, 2025

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul Are Also Rising in the Rankings

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul are also rising in the rankings. After scoring big runs in his first series as captain during a major team transition, Gill has led from the front with 722 runs so far. For his outstanding performances, Gill has moved up to No.9 in the rankings. Jasprit Bumrah continues to dominate as the No. 1-ranked Test bowler.

With 511 runs, KL Rahul has been consistent at the top of the order and has moved up to No.36.

Let’s take a look at where the Indian batters are placed in the latest ICC Test rankings:

1. Rishabh Pant – No.7
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal – No.8
3. Shubman Gill – No.9
4. Ravindra Jadeja – No.29
5. KL Rahul – No.36

Root Extends His Lead at the Top of Test Batting Rankings

Joe Root increased his lead at the top of the Test batting rankings after his innings of 150 at Old Trafford. With this performance, he overtook Australian legend Ricky Ponting and became the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

His England teammate Ben Duckett also made gains, moving back inside the top 10 after climbing five places to 10th overall with his knock of 94 in the same match. Ben Stokes also improved his ranking, reaching joint 34th in batting and third among all-rounders.

Among England’s other batters, Ben Duckett climbed to 10th, Ollie Pope to 24th, and Zak Crawley to 43rd. Among bowlers, Jofra Archer jumped 38 places to 63rd, while Chris Woakes moved up to 23rd.

The exchange of words between Ravindra Jadeja, Ben Stokes, and Ben Duckett in the middle of Old Trafford added extra flair to the rivalry between England and India. When Jadeja and his batting partner Washington Sundar were closing in on their hundreds, England captain Ben Stokes proposed that they settle the match for a draw through a gentleman's handshake. Jadeja denied.

The act from Stokes was nothing less than a surprising move from him. The Manchester drama dragged another India vs. England moment from memory lane, when Stokes was the man who got stunned by the opposite team captain, who was Rohit Sharma.

Last year, when England was up against India at Rajkot, just after the drinks break, the captain of team India, Rohit Sharma, surprised all in the stadium. Even Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan, who were on the crease, also got stunned. But it was Ben Stokes and his boys who weren't able to digest what just happened. "Rohit's decision to delay the declaration beyond the drinks break when England was expecting him to declare has played havoc with England's mindset," Sourav Ganguly said.

Read More: ENG vs IND 5th Test: After Anshul Kamboj, another pacer can make Test debut, decision to come soon

A well thought decision by Rohit?

Rohit refused to declare the innings right before the drinks by signaling the batters from the pavilion to continue their batting job in the park. But Jaiswal and Sarfaraz returned to the field after the drinks break and played for one more over, adding 18 runs before Rohit declared the innings for real this time. It was considered a rare statement made by an opponent captain against England.

It was the first time when a team declared innings against the Three Lions during the Bazball era. India won the match by 434 runs. Jaiswal remained unbeaten for 214, and Khan slammed 50-plus innings in both innings. Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja got a century each. Jadeja was the man of the match for his all-round performance; along with scoring a hundred, he took a total of 7 wickets in the match. 

Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has weighed in ahead of the crucial fifth and final Test between India and England, starting Thursday, July 31, at The Oval. With England currently leading the series 2-1, the contest carries massive stakes for both sides. Speaking on Star Sports, Parthiv predicted the outcome of the match and highlighted key players who could turn the game around in India’s favor.

The former cricketer identified either Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja as India’s X-factor at The Oval, citing the favorable conditions for spinners. “I think either of Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja will be the X-factor. There is that drift and bounce at The Oval; if a spinner does well, you can aim for a win,” he said. Both all-rounders scored centuries in the fourth Test and were instrumental in helping India secure a dramatic draw. He also spotlighted captain Shubman Gill, saying, “I think the player to watch out for is Shubman Gill because of the way he is performing, and especially in the fourth Test, how he applied himself.”

Parthiv also expressed his desire to see Jasprit Bumrah return for the final Test. There were initial plans for Bumrah to play only three of the five games, but with the series on the line, Parthiv hopes the ace pacer will be available. “Unfortunately, with Jasprit Bumrah’s body, we have to see how his recovery happens or does not happen. There are many questions. But if the situation is like this, I would definitely want him to play. Hopefully, the support staff works hard on him and makes him fit.”

Kuldeep Yadav and Dhruv Jurel in Focus

Parthiv further reflected on India’s bowling combination and made a strong case for including wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. “I think the bowling can be better. I am also saying this from the second Test, given the conditions here, India has to somehow find that way of bringing Kuldeep Yadav in. Your batting is in form. If you have to win, you need 20 wickets,” he said. With uncertainty surrounding Bumrah’s fitness, he believes India needs an attacking spinner. “Washington and Jadeja can contain, but you need an attacking spinner. You have that wrist-spinner. They should think of Kuldeep in place of Shardul,” he added.

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With Rishabh Pant ruled out of the fifth Test due to a fractured toe, Parthiv also backed Dhruv Jurel to play. “You will find a batting-friendly pitch at The Oval. You can expect more bounce and can see more runs being scored. I don’t think India will look at KL as a keeper and do anything different there. I think Dhruv Jurel will get an opportunity. It remains to be seen which position he plays. But he will definitely play,” he said. England, on the other hand, will look to clinch the series 3-1, while India will aim to ride the momentum from the drawn Test in Manchester to level the series 2-2.

Should the Indian team management promote Ravindra Jadeja at No. 6 permanently for the remaining part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC)? Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed his opinion through his YouTube channel video. He acknowledged the way Ravindra Jadeja performed at Old Trafford with the bat. The spin-bowling all-rounder's record-breaking stand with Washington Sundar and individual hundred were praised by all cricket fans. Accepting the fact that Jadeja did extremely well with his batting, Chopra would like him to be seen mainly as a spin bowler who can contribute in the batting department. Jadeja scored an unbeaten 107 off 185 deliveries to help India draw the fourth Test against England in Manchester. 

"His primary role shouldn't change because Ravichandran Ashwin isn't there now. Until Ashwin was there, you had two quality wicket-takers in the spin department... However, when you go outside India, the pitches become flat, those many wickets don't come into Jaddu's account, and (Washington) Sundar is there with him instead of Ashwin, and suddenly you realize how it would work out if both of them were playing together. Jaddu has to be the bowler first," the former cricketer opined in his video. 

In the ongoing 5-match Test series, Jadeja's contribution mostly came from his bat. He scored a total of 454 runs at an average of 113.50 in eight innings, while as a spin bowler he snatched seven wickets in as many innings, coming at an average of 67.71, which is not up to the mark. 

Read More: Jofra Archer set to miss ENG vs IND 5th Test? Stuart Broad suggests major shake-up

Ravindra Jadeja as long term number 7

Chopra suggested the Indian team management use Jadeja as a long-term number 7 and include a full-time batsman to increase the batting depth. 

"Jaddu should be a bowler who takes five-wicket and 10-wicket hauls and bats a little along with that. I feel we should go in that direction. I think long-term, no. 7. You still need a batter at No. 6 because your keeper comes at No. 5," Aakash said. 

Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott strongly criticised the Ben Stokes-led England side for their on-field behaviour during the tense final moments of the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford. The drama unfolded when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar declined Stokes’ offer to end the match early with a draw. Despite the match heading towards a stalemate, the Indian pair, then on 89 and 80, not only refused the handshake but continued batting, a move that visibly frustrated the England camp during the final hour of Day 5.

In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott defended Jadeja and Sundar’s decision, praising their resilience and composure after India’s extraordinary fightback from a 311-run first-innings deficit. He argued that the Indian batters had every right to continue, especially given their pivotal role in rescuing the Test. Boycott dismissed England's frustrations as unnecessary, pointing out that cricketing rules allowed the match to continue and that the duo’s actions were entirely within the spirit of the game.

See Also: When was the last time India conceded 500+ runs in an innings overseas before ENG vs IND 2025 4th Test?

"What goes around comes around. England were gobby enough when it suited them, so you can't blame India for wanting to stay on and allow two batsmen who had worked their socks off to reach their hundreds. If you give it, like England does, then you have to be able to take it. I could hear them through the stump mics chipping away at India, so why should they be nice to them and agree to go off when England have had enough?," Boycott wrote.

They do not take a backward step: Boycott

Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott also praised the mental strength shown by the Indian players, stating that he would have made the same decision if he were in their position. The legendary England batter commended their determination and resilience under pressure. Boycott didn’t shy away from criticising the current generation of cricketers, accusing them of relying too heavily on sledging and psychological tactics. The right-hand batter remarked that such behaviour contrasts sharply with the standards and sportsmanship upheld during his playing days, implying that modern players often stray from the true spirit of the game.

"These India players are tough cookies. They do not take a backward step. There is no way I would have let anyone drag me off on 89 after I had worked hard all day to save the game for my team. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar deserved their hundreds. They left the ball well, played with the full face of the bat, and defended their wickets at all costs. Well done. I'm not sure what it is with modern players. You hear a lot of them mouthing off. It never really happened when I was playing. It will carry on at the Oval and India will go there thinking they got a win at Old Trafford," he wrote.

A recently resurfaced video from the 2016–17 Rajkot Test between India and England has sparked a fresh debate, showcasing then-India captain Virat Kohli accepting England’s offer for a draw. This footage has gone viral, especially after India’s bold stance in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in July 2025, where Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar turned down a similar offer from Ben Stokes. The stark contrast between these two moments has ignited conversations about sportsmanship, intentions, and priorities during the nail-biting final moments of hard-fought Test matches.

During the 2016 Rajkot Test, England set India a challenging target of 310 runs in 49 overs on the last day. As wickets fell, Kohli, alongside Ashwin and Jadeja, steadied the innings, bringing India to 172/6. Although Kohli was just one run shy of his half-century, he chose to accept Alastair Cook’s offer to draw the match, putting team strategy and the match situation ahead of personal achievements. This decision was praised at the time for its practicality and the mutual respect shown between the teams.

See Also: Gill rates Manchester ton as his best, credits KL Rahul for sparking belief

Fast forward to July 2025 at Old Trafford, India faced a daunting 311-run deficit after England posted 669 in the first innings. Despite early setbacks, Indian batters mounted a stellar comeback, with Gill (103), Rahul (90), Jadeja (107*), and Sundar (101*) leading the charge. As India reached 386/4 late on Day 5, Stokes offered a handshake to draw the match. However, the Indian batters declined, choosing to continue and complete their centuries, sparking conversation about changing attitudes in high-stakes cricket.

My man was never obessed to personal milestones. He never looked for personal milestones ahead of the team. pic.twitter.com/ya7dAT1WSe

— Abhay (@abhiiiisays) July 28, 2025

 I wasn't going to be risking any of my frontline bowlers: Ben Stokes

Unlike in 2016, Jadeja and Sundar chose not to accept the draw offer. Both batters were in their 90s and were determined to reach personal milestones while also sealing India’s remarkable comeback in style. Their decision left the English camp visibly frustrated. In response, Ben Stokes handed the ball to part-timer Harry Brook. Jadeja reached his century with a towering six, and Sundar soon followed with his maiden Test hundred. Although initially disappointed, Stokes later commended the Indian duo, explaining that his offer stemmed from a packed schedule and concern for his frontline bowlers.

At the age of 36, Ravindra Jadeja has been aging like a fine wine. Whenever India struck trouble in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, Jadeja came to the middle to rescue the team. The high moment of his current stint in England came when he smashed a hundred to save the match for team India.

For Jadeja's relentless performance and unmatchable aura he created, the Sony Sports Network has released a special video ahead of the England vs. India 5th Test. Through the video Sony paid respect to the star all-rounder of the team. With a charming commentary in the background, strokes from Jadeja's blade and, obviously, the sword celebration made the video a definite watch.

In the ongoing Test series, the experienced cricketer of Team India's current setup got the unbeaten century after claiming 4 back-to-back half centuries. After the first match of the tour, which was in Leeds, Jadeja found his mojo. In the following two matches (Birmingham Test and Lord's Test), he bagged four fifty-plus knocks in 4 innings.

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Watch the special video here

SONY EDIT FOR SIR JADEJA. 🫡🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/xznU0IfCPe

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 28, 2025

Whenever India lost their top-order batters, the spin-bowling all-rounder came in big times. In the first innings in Leeds, multiple cricket experts heavily criticized him for batting with less aggression. The Saurashtra-born throughout his career played multiple pressure encounters and knows his duties very well. From the next game, he has been riding high on confidence, contributing equally with the ball and the bat. 

Ravindra Jadeja knocks in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy so far:

• 11 and 25* vs. England, Leeds
• 89 and 69* vs. England, Birmingham
• 72 and 61* vs. England, Lord's
• 20 and 107* vs. England, Manchester 

Since Ben Stokes and his entire England side went hard at Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, the two Indian batters, for not accepting their proposal of calling the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester off, every lens has viewed the situation in various ways, as comments have come on which camp they belong to. 

Many reckoned that Stokes, the Durham player and the captain, was right to shake hands, given his bowlers were dead on their feet. His action came just after a flashing drive from Washington Sundar smashed Ben Duckett on his arms while fielding at the silly point. Kevin Pietersen, the former batter, has come to the defense of Stokes on his social media account.

See Also: [WATCH] 'Double Standard...'- Ravichandran Ashwin reacts to India not accepting England's proposal to draw ENG vs IND 4th Test

‘2 days fielding and no result on the cards - you WANT to get off the field! You cannot have a pop at Ben Stokes for his frustration. Very easy to have a pop at him when you’re sitting in your lounge watching. You’re NOT in the battle. Leave the men in the ring to be emotional.’ Pietersen wrote on his ‘X’ handled (formerly known as Twitter).

Kevin Pietersen defends Ben Stokes' behavior after India refuses to accept draw proposal in ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Stokes, later, coming into the press conference, admitted that he was not ready to use any of his frontline pacers in the game, given that they will turn up again for the fifth and final contest at the Kennington Oval in South London in three days. That was why Harry Brook was introduced into the attack.

2 days fielding and no result on the cards - you WANT to get off the field!
You cannot have a pop at Ben Stokes for his frustration.
Very easy to have a pop at him when you’re sitting in your lounge watching.
You’re NOT in the battle. Leave the men in the ring to be emotional.

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 28, 2025

Jadeja smashed a couple of sixes in that over and celebrated his second Test century in England after his maiden hundred at Edgbaston in 2022, while Sundar, who was strangled on 95 and 86 in the past, finally notched up his maiden red-ball century. It’s a huge boost for the tourists going into South London.

The series now stands at 2-1 with the home side enjoying the lead. But India will still have a chance to walk away with the 2-2 margin if they display another special show at the Oval.

It was a dramatic end to the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford in Manchester when the home captain, Ben Stokes, gave a proposal to the India batters, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, of drawing the fixture. But in reply, they didn’t stretch their hands up, and that fumed the entire home side, who were dead and down on their feet.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian spinner, has ripped apart the behavior from the hots and called them double standards for the act. Stokes decided to bring Harry Brook into the attack as Jadeja smashed a couple of sixes to celebrate his second Test century in England. Later, Sundar also recorded his maiden red-ball century and remained unbeaten in the middle.

See Also: 'The BCCI can't...'- BCCI sources reflect on India's participation in Ind vs Pak during Asia Cup 2025

‘Have you heard the term double standards? They played your bowlers all day, batted you out, and suddenly, when they're nearing hundreds, you want to walk off? Why should they?! You ask, ‘You want to make a hundred against Harry?’ Not Brook, brother.’ Ravichandran Ashwin expressed on his YouTube channel.

Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin reacts to India not accepting England’s proposal to draw Eng vs Ind 4th Test

There are no certain rules to draw the game. It’s just the mutual agreement between two captains to draw the contest when they feel that no result is possible. The latest they could do that is the start of the last over in a Test match. And Ashwin reminded them of the restrictions.

bol Ash Anna rahe hain, lekin shabd har ek fan ke hain #INDvsENGTest #JadduWashi pic.twitter.com/XAgmhFI6Nn

— Arun Lol (@dhaikilokatweet) July 28, 2025

‘There were two reasons — one, you didn’t want to tire your bowlers. Fine. Second, you were frustrated and thought, 'If I’m not happy, you shouldn’t be either.' That’s not how cricket works. These are Test runs. A century is earned, not gifted. Washington deserved it. Jadeja deserved it. Period.’ The Chennai-born explained.

Even if they wanted to, they could have stayed till the end of the game. The issue for the home side was the health of their bowlers, who will again turn up three days later for the fifth Test of the five-match series at the Kennington Oval in South London. At the moment, England is leading by a 2-1 margin.