The fifth and final Test of the India vs England 2025 series is scheduled to be played at The Oval in London from 31st July. Recently, a heated argument between the pitch curator and Team India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, went viral on social media platforms. India’s assistant coach, Shitanshu Kotak, told the media during a press conference that the curator did not allow the Indian support staff to go near the pitch even though they were wearing rubber shoes.
The curator even shouted at some members of the support staff, which led Gambhir to have a heated exchange with him. The Oval pitch has already been in the news for this drama, and it will be interesting to see how it behaves during the 5th Test.
The Oval Pitch Report for India vs England 5th Test 2025
The Oval pitch is usually good for batting, especially in the first few days. The surface here is flat and hard, so batters can play their shots easily. On the first morning, there is a bit of grass and moisture on the pitch, so fast bowlers can get some swing and seam movement. If the sky is cloudy, the fast bowlers become even more dangerous.
As the match goes on, especially after the third day, the pitch slowly starts to break. This gives help to spin bowlers. On the fourth and fifth day, cracks appear on the surface, and spinners can turn the ball more and get uneven bounce.
For batting, the early days are the best time to score runs because later it becomes harder. Records show that The Oval often has high-scoring matches, but the bowlers always get some help – fast bowlers at the start and spinners in the later days.
The captain who wins the toss must look at the weather and the pitch before deciding. If there are clouds and moisture, bowling first is a good idea. If the weather is clear, batting first and making 350–400 or more runs is the best plan.
In short, The Oval pitch is great for batting in the beginning, but as the match goes on, both fast bowlers and spinners get chances. Teams need to play with patience and smart plans to handle the changing pitch.