New Delhi: England have confirmed their playing XI for the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval, starting July 31, with a notable absence—Ben Stokes, ruled out due to a shoulder injury. The English all-rounder, who is the series’ leading wicket-taker and scored a century in the last Test at Old Trafford, will miss the decider, dealing a significant blow to the hosts.
Reacting to the development, India captain Shubman Gill termed Stokes’ absence a major setback for England. “He’s a big miss for them. Whether with the bat or the ball, Stokes is someone who always makes things happen. From England’s perspective, it is definitely a loss. But at the same time, whoever comes in to represent their country will be just as competitive,” Gill said during the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
Stokes, visibly disappointed, explained the rationale behind his decision to opt out. “I took almost 20 minutes to myself this morning to be really clear about the decision. There wasn’t any doubt in the end—it came down to weighing risk versus reward, and the risk of further injury was too great. I didn’t want to jeopardize myself or my team,” Stokes told reporters. “It’s heartbreaking to miss out, but we have a strong squad, and I’m confident in the team we’re putting out.”
Addressing another topic making headlines, Gill responded to the Oval pitch controversy, which erupted after a video surfaced showing an argument between the Indian team and the curator. The footage showed the curator preventing Indian players from closely inspecting the pitch, sparking speculation online.
“I don’t know what exactly happened or why the pitch curator behaved like that,” Gill said. “We’ve played four matches in this series, and no one tried to stop us. Everyone involved in this team has enough experience, and the captain and coaches routinely check the wicket.”
The skipper further clarified that, to his knowledge, no protocols were breached. “If a curator tells you to look at the wicket from three meters away, that’s not something we’ve experienced before. As long as you’re in rubber spikes or barefoot, you’re allowed to look at the pitch. That’s a routine part of preparations,” he added.
When asked about Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the final Test, Gill remained non-committal. The ace pacer was initially scheduled to play three out of five Tests in the series, and with three matches under his belt, it remains uncertain whether he’ll feature at The Oval.
“We will take a call tomorrow. The wicket looks very green, so let’s see,” Gill concluded.
With the series finely poised, the final Test promises high drama—even without England’s talismanic all-rounder.
