There was a moment of controversy on the opening day of the India vs England 5th Test but for a change, it did not directly involve a player but umpire Kumar Dharmasena. In the 13th over when Josh Tongue’s delivery had made itself on to Sai Sudharsan’s pads, England issued a loud appeal. But the umpire appeared to make a gesture that the ball had struck the inside edge. If not for the gesture, England would have likely burnt a review.
Former India batter Sanjay Bangar wasn’t happy with the decision saying that in an era of the DRS, the umpire is not supposed to do that. “These habits don’t go away easily for umpires because it’s second nature to them. Whenever there is an appeal, you try to say it. Because when Dharmasena had started his umpiring career, there was no DRS then. But now, you are not supposed to give a signal on what’s going on in your mind. Or else, the bowler and the bowling team gets a sort of a hint on what’s going on in the umpire’s mind. The umpire should not have done that,” Bangar said on Star Sports.
Sudharsan ultimately made a gritty 38 runs before getting caught behind off a delivery by Josh Tongue in the 36th over.
Experts react as #KumarDharmasena makes a lightning-quick LBW call on #SaiSudharsan ⚡
Did he judge it too quickly or just perfectly? 👀#ENGvIND 👉 5th TEST, DAY 1 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/04PYjgM7su pic.twitter.com/LJuKFV5Own
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 31, 2025
Earlier, the rain-hit first day of the final England-India test saw only six overs bowled between lunch and tea on Thursday but that was enough for visiting captain Shubman Gill to throw away his wicket with a crazy run-out to swing the series further in the home side’s favour.
India, needing victory at The Oval to square the series, reached tea on 85-3, but with their two most prolific batsmen already out, and with England’s seamers itching for another crack on a wet wicket having failed to take full advantage earlier on, the odds are stacking against the tourists.
The overcast morning conditions had looked ideal for England’s all-seam attack, even without injured captain Ben Stokes or rested paceman Jofra Archer, but though they looked lively, the Indian batters were only occasionally troubled.
Recalled Gus Atkinson was England’s sharpest bowler and he struck in the fifth over, trapping Yashasvi Jaiswal LBW as stand-in captain Ollie Pope finally got on the right side of a DRS review after 14 unsuccessful appeals last year.
KL Rahul, with over 500 runs to his name from the first four matches, looked relatively untroubled before playing-on while trying to cut Chris Woakes to depart for 14.
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At 38-2, England and a packed Oval crowd sensed an opportunity but Sai Sudharsan, who had been initially very watchful, started to time the ball well as India reached lunch on 72-2 with Gill, averaging over 90 from his previous 722 runs in the series, also looking comfortable.
A heavy shower that caught out the ground staff created more difficult conditions for the tourists in a delayed afternoon session.
(with agency inputs)
