England drew first blood in the final Test of the series at The Oval, as fast bowler Gus Atkinson dismissed India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 2 runs with a fiery delivery that crashed into the middle stump, thanks to a well-judged DRS call from captain Ollie Pope.
Bowling from around the wicket, Atkinson delivered one that jagged back sharply off a good length, angling in from outside off. Jaiswal, defending tentatively, brought his bat down at an awkward angle and was struck on the back pad. England appealed instantly for LBW, but the on-field umpire was unmoved.
There was an audible woody sound, prompting initial doubts, but Atkinson remained convinced, joined by enthusiastic voices from behind the stumps. Pope, equally confident, went upstairs for a review. On replay, it was clear: the bat and ball hadn’t connected. Instead, the ball brushed the front pad before thudding into the back pad.
Third umpire, after a brief check, confirmed no UltraEdge was needed. Ball tracking followed and it was damning for Jaiswal. Three reds lit up the screen as the ball was shown to be hitting middle stump. The on-field decision was overturned, and Jaiswal was sent back for 2 off 9 balls, leaving India at 10/1 in the early stages of the Test.
Captain Ollie Pope celebrated the successful review with a fist pump directed at the England dressing room, where injured talisman Ben Stokes, sidelined due to a shoulder issue, applauded the call. It was a moment of sharp captaincy and precise bowling, giving England the ideal start in a high-stakes encounter.
IND Vs ENG: Why Did Gautam Gambhir Get Into A Heated Exchange With Oval Pitch Curator Lee Fortis? Indian Batting Coach Gives Clarification
Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has addressed the recent verbal spat between Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval's chief pitch curator, Lee Fortis, ahead of the fifth and final Test between India and England, set to begin Thursday. The exchange between Gambhir and Fortis sparked considerable attention, especially as tensions rise with the series on the line.
In a pre-match press conference, Kotak offered his perspective on the incident, saying, “When we were looking at the pitch. They had sent a man to send a message for us to stay 2.5 m away from the pitch. This was a little surprising. We were wearing joggers. It was quite awkward. We know curators are a little overprotective and possessive about the square and the ground. What he said about the head coach is his opinion, and I don't want to comment. There is nothing wrong with looking at a wicket wearing rubber spikes.”
The spat reportedly erupted during a routine inspection of the pitch area, with both parties seemingly disagreeing over proximity and protocol. Lee Fortis had earlier played down the incident, stating that he had never met Gambhir before that day and wasn’t concerned by the exchange. “It is quite a big game coming up. It is not my job to be happy with him or not,” Fortis remarked. “You saw what he was like this morning. It’s okay, I am fine. We have nothing to hide.”
The incident comes at a crucial juncture in the series. India managed to hold England to a draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, keeping their hopes alive. With England leading the five-match series 2-1, the final Test at The Oval presents India with a chance to level the contest.
While the verbal spat may not have any official consequences, it has added another layer of intrigue to a high-stakes showdown between two top cricketing sides.
