The Oval Test Twist: Captain Stokes Out, England Make Four Big Changes vs India
England suffer blow as Ben Stokes is ruled out of final Test vs India. Star batter is set to lead the team at The Oval. Read the entire article to know more about the player.
Ben Stokes (Image Credit: ICC on X)
Last Updated: 05.10 PM, Jul 30, 2025
England face a huge blow for the final Test match against India as captain Ben Stokes is out of the team due to a shoulder injury. The hosts are leading the series 2-1 but will have to play at The Oval under a new captain. Stokes has been one of the best players in the series, contributing both with the bat and the ball.
In the previous match, he scored 141 runs and claimed a fifer, helping England take a solid lead in the first innings. The hosts will surely miss their captain and his energy on the field. However, the ECB has appointed Ollie Pope as the new captain of the team for the final Test.
Apart from him, they have made five other changes as well. The Board has rested Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse for the final match. They have included Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue in the playing XI for the Oval Test. Pope is comparatively new to the captaincy, so it will be a tough competition between the two teams.
England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue
Will Jasprit Bumrah play in the final Test against England?
The Kennington Oval, London, is likely to witness one of the most thrilling matches in the history of the game. With two new captains on the field, fresh ideas will emerge, and the energies will be different. However, India are in a similar situation to England as Jasprit Bumrah is set to miss the fifth Test match . Due to fatigue and workload management, the medical team has requested the BCCI to rest him in the final match.
Since India are trailing 1-2 in the series, this is a huge blow for them. Star pacer Akash Deep, who was ruled out of the fourth Test due to injury, is fit again and is likely to replace Bumrah in the playing XI. Moreover, reports suggest that Kuldeep Yadav might make a comeback in the team as well. He was benched throughout the Test, but India might use his help in the final match.