India went into lunch on Day 1 of the fifth Test at The Oval at 72/2, after losing both Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul early in challenging conditions. England debutant Gus Atkinson impressed with a sharp new-ball spell that set the tone for the morning session.
England’s decision to bowl first on a damp pitch with overhead cloud cover paid off immediately. Atkinson trapped Jaiswal for 2 in his second over, but only after drama. The on-field umpire initially gave it not out, suspecting an inside edge, but England captain Ollie Pope opted for DRS. Replays showed no bat, impact in line, and the ball crashing into the stumps. The overturned call gave England the early breakthrough they were looking for.
KL Rahul attempted to counterattack, but his innings ended on 14 when he chopped a Chris Woakes delivery onto his stumps while trying to cut too close to his body. That left India wobbling at 38/2 with both openers gone.
Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill then steadied the innings, showing patience in the face of disciplined seam bowling. Sudharsan reached lunch unbeaten on 25, while Gill was on 15. Their stand of 34 runs provided some stability after the early damage.
Atkinson’s pace and movement were the highlights of the session. The debutant consistently beat the bat and extracted bounce from the surface, while Woakes kept up the pressure with a tight line and length. The conditions offered enough for the seamers, and England’s decision to rest key bowlers like Jofra Archer seemed justified as their attack maintained control.
India now face the task of rebuilding against a confident England pace unit under overcast skies. For England, the plan will be to maintain the intensity and target more breakthroughs before the surface eases out later in the day. With the series on the line, the opening session has swung the momentum towards the hosts, leaving India reliant on their middle order to mount a recovery.