The stage is set for the fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval, bringing a dramatic close to what has been a gripping five-match series. With the series hanging in the balance, India have made four changes to their playing XI With the series hanging in the balance, India have made four changes to their playing XI. Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, along with Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur, has been rested, while wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant continues to recover from his injury.
In Bumrah’s absence, the responsibility of leading the pace attack falls on the shoulders of Mohammed Siraj, who Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna will support.
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Interestingly, just before the start of the Test, legendary South African pacer Dale Steyn took to social media with a bold prediction—“Siraj to take a fifer in 5th Test,” he wrote on X, backing the Indian pacer to make a big impact.
Siraj to take a fifer in 5th Test.
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) July 30, 2025
Siraj, who is currently India’s joint-highest wicket-taker in the series, began the tour on a high, grabbing 6 for 70 in the first innings of the Edgbaston Test. However, his returns tapered off in the following matches. At Lord’s, he managed two wickets in each innings, but at Old Trafford, he toiled hard across 30 overs for a solitary wicket while conceding 140 runs.
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Nevertheless, the Oval Test gives Siraj the perfect opportunity to bounce back and achieve a significant personal milestone. The 31-year-old stands on the brink of reaching 200 international wickets for India, currently sitting at 199 across formats. Since his debut in 2017, Siraj has claimed 114 wickets in Tests, 71 in ODIs, and 14 in T20Is.
Notably, he has been highly effective in England, scalping 37 wickets in 11 Tests on English soil—32 of those against England and five more in the WTC Final 2023 at The Oval against Australia.
