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Team India skipper Shubman Gill had a brainfade moment after the toss in the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. After trailing by a 1-2 margin in the series, this win in this match is crucial for Team India to end the series in a stalemate. India, who are playing at the Oval after two years, will endeavour to replicate their 2021 performance against England at the iconic venue. Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, India hammered England by 157 runs and won their second game at the venue. India couldn’t be lucky at the toss as England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope emerged victorious and elected to field first in overcast conditions.
Gill, who came forward for the conversation after Pope’s chat with the presenter Ravi Shastri, was seen exuding confidence in his conversation with the former Team India coach. Gill said that losing the toss doesn’t affect him as long as the side win the game. "Don't mind losing the toss as long as we win the game. Was a bit confused yesterday about what to do, was a bit overcast but the wicket looks good, we'll look to post good runs in the first innings. Should be a good pitch for the bowlers. We look to win every game. We have come close in every game and it is about the extra five or 10 per cent, so boys will be giving it their all. We have made three changes," said Gill.
When asked about squad changes in the team, Shubman Gill mentioned that Dhruv Jurel replaced Rishabh Pant while Prasidh Krishna superseded Jasprit Bumrah and Karun Nair also broke into the 11-member squad in place of Shardul Thakur. He forgot to mention Akash Deep, who has made a comeback in the playing XI after missing the fourth Test. “We’ve got three changes. Dhruv comes in for Rishabh and we’ve got Karun Nair back in for Shardul and Prasidh comes back in for Bumrah,” added Gill.
India witness a shaky start in the final Test
Batting first after losing the toss, Team India lost two quick wickets in the form of their openers Yashasvi Jasiwal and KL Rahul. Jaiswal became the victim of Gus Atkinson, who got trapped leg-before-wicket. KL Rahul fell against Chris Woakes, who cleaned him up. Jaiswal could score only two off nine while Rahul’s innings ended after scoring 14 off 40.
Ahead of the second session, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill were at the crease and India have accumulated 72 runs at the loss of two wickets. Sudharsan has scored an unbeaten 25* off 67 while Gill has hoarded unbeaten 15* runs off 23 balls.
