In the fifth and final Test between India and England, the English side won the toss and chose to bat first. Devdutt Padikkal made his debut, replacing the injured Rajat Patidar, while Jasprit Bumrah returned, leading to Akash Deep’s exclusion. The match also marked a significant milestone for R Ashwin, playing his 100th Test, and receiving a special cap from coach Rahul Dravid.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s entry was celebrated with a Guard of Honour from his teammates, a moment graced by the presence of his wife and two daughters. As the opening batsmen, Zach Crawley and Ben Duckett cautiously faced Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj. During Crawley’s stay at 29 runs, India made a strong LBW appeal, but the decision favoured the batsman.

In the 15th over, R Ashwin, playing his 100th Test, became the first of India’s spinners to enter the attack. However, Ben Duckett, displaying aggression against the spin, scored a boundary off Ashwin.

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The turning point came when Kuldeep Yadav was introduced into the attack, forcing Duckett to go big with a powerful stroke. Unfortunately for Duckett, the aggressive approach led to a mistimed shot, resulting in a superb return catch by Shubman Gill. This breakthrough for India came shortly after England reached the fifty-run mark in their opening stand.

  

In the end, Kuldeep Yadav’s dismissal of Ben Duckett for 27 runs provided India with a crucial breakthrough, and Shubman Gill’s exceptional return catch marked the end of England’s opening partnership. The visitors were set back at 64 runs, highlighting the significance of Kuldeep’s contribution in India’s quest for dominance in the series.

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Earlier in the game, Rohit Sharma opted for the Decision Review System (DRS) for an LBW appeal against Zak Crawley, but the umpire’s call favoured the batsman.