England hold a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series against India, with the fourth Test at Manchester ending in a gripping draw. The Indian batters showed remarkable resilience to salvage the match, setting up a thrilling finale at The Oval, where both teams will battle for supremacy in the last Test starting Thursday, July 31.

Former seamer names India XI for the Oval Test

Former India pacer Dodda Ganesh has revealed his preferred XI for the series decider, making three notable changes from the side that featured in Manchester. With Rishabh Pant ruled out after suffering a fractured toe during the fourth Test, Ganesh has brought in Dhruv Jurel as the wicketkeeper. Jurel, who has played as a substitute in the previous two Tests, has just four overall Tests under his belt.

In the bowling department, Ganesh opted for Akash Deep and Kuldeep Yadav in place of Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj. Akash, who missed the previous match due to a groin injury, was instrumental in India’s win in the second Test at Edgbaston, where he picked up 10 wickets. Kuldeep, despite his strong Test record, has been on the sidelines throughout the series but could now play a crucial role.

Meanwhile, Thakur and Kamboj struggled in Manchester, combining for disappointing figures of 1/144 in 29 overs, prompting Ganesh’s reshuffle.

Dodda Ganesh’s XI for the 5th Test:

KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

Also READ: ENG vs IND: Irfan Pathan calls out hypocrisy following Gautam Gambhir’s altercation with Oval pitch curator

Excitement rises as Gambhir-curator spat adds spice to the finale

Adding to the intensity of the series decider, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir’s recent altercation with The Oval’s pitch curator has drawn significant attention. The heated exchange reportedly centered around pitch preparation, with Gambhir’s fiery stance further amplifying the anticipation for the fifth Test.

As India look to draw the series and England aim to seal a home triumph, the clash at The Oval promises high drama both on and off the field.

Also WATCH: ENG vs IND – “Don’t tell us what to do”: Gautam Gambhir loses his cool at pitch curator ahead of the Oval Test