Ben Stokes injury hands India the advantage in Test finale

Dubai: The battle lines are drawn for the series finale between India and England at The Oval, but both teams have been hit by high-profile casualties. With Ben Stokes ruled out and Jasprit Bumrah doubtful of the deciding Test, Thursday’s contest could boil down to bench strength and nerve. And here, India might just hold the edge.

Stokes has been the heartbeat of England’s campaign, but a shoulder injury has sidelined him at the climax. Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, has been reportedly rested as a precaution after a taxing third appearance in Manchester. That Test ended in a dramatic draw, keeping India’s hopes of a 2-2 series result alive.

India captain Shubman Gill, speaking at the pre-match press conference, said a final decision on Bumrah would be made after inspecting the pitch conditions. “We will take a decision tomorrow,” Gill said. “The wicket looks very green. So, let’s see.”

Gill confirmed that left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been asked to be ready and could make his Test debut. “He has been told to be prepared,” he said. “We will take a call on the final XI after assessing the pitch later today.” Arshdeep is seen as an ideal replacement for Bumrah, who also sat out the second Test due to workload management.

India are also comfortable with their spin options despite England not naming a frontline spinner. “We are confident in Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to handle spin duties effectively,” Gill added.

The absence of Stokes is likely to influence England’s approach. With Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse also unavailable, England may resist preparing a seaming track and instead stick with the flat pitches that have dominated the series. Ollie Pope will lead the hosts for the first time in Stokes’s absence.

India, meanwhile, are expected to make at least three changes. Rishabh Pant, the leading run-scorer of the series for India with 479 runs, is out with a toe fracture. Dhruv Jurel is the front-runner to take the gloves. All-rounder Anshul Kamboj and seamer Shardul Thakur could also make way for Karun Nair and Kuldeep Yadav, the latter offering a genuine wrist-spin option on a pitch likely to break down. However, should there be grass, then Akash Deep, who took 10 wickets in the second Test win at Edgbaston, has regained fitness and could slot in if India prefer an extra seamer alongside Arshdeep.

The team’s batting unit looks settled, with five of the top seven having scored centuries in the series. Gill, in particular, has thrived under the captaincy burden, becoming the top run-scorer for India in a series against England with 722 runs — surpassing Yashasvi Jaiswal’s previous record of 712. Legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar holds the record for most runs by an Indian during a bilateral series, with 774 runs in four Tests against the West Indies away from home in 1971 series, at an average of 154.80, with four centuries and three fifties and a best score of 220.

The drawn Manchester Test, where India batted out 143 overs in the second innings, was a statement of resilience. It ended with a touch of drama too — Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar completing centuries and declining Stokes’s handshake offer for an early draw.

With fatigue mounting and tempers flaring, the series has taken a physical and mental toll. Stokes leads all wicket-takers with 17 scalps, bowling 140 overs — his most ever in a series. His absence could unbalance England’s five-bowler strategy.

As the curtain draws on this see-saw five-match series, the script remains unfinished. With high-stakes drama expected once again under London skies, India have a golden opportunity to level the series — and perhaps land the psychological blow that carries into future tours.