India and England will clash in the fifth and final Test of the series at Kennington Oval starting today, with the visitors looking to level the series 2-2. However, the highly anticipated contest could be affected by rain, as gloomy weather conditions dominate the London forecast.
England lead the five-match series 2-1. India staged a strong fightback in Manchester to draw the fourth Test, buoyed by centuries from Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja.
As both sides prepare for a result-oriented final Test, the focus has shifted to external factors—especially the overhead conditions and pitch behaviour, both of which are expected to influence strategy and selection.
Injuries remain a concern for both sides. Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested, with Arshdeep Singh or Akash Deep in contention to debut. For England, skipper Ben Stokes has been ruled out with a shoulder injury, and Ollie Pope will lead the side in his place.India vs England 5th Test: London Weather ReportAccording to the latest updates from Accuweather, light rain is expected across all five days of the Test. The opening two days are particularly at risk, with high cloud cover, consistent drizzle, and wind speeds touching 13 km/h.
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Temperature is forecast to stay between 14°C and 24°C, accompanied by high humidity levels near 88%—conditions ideal for swing bowling. If rain stays away long enough to allow full days of play, bowlers are expected to dominate under these skies.India vs England: The Oval Pitch ReportThe Oval pitch is currently sporting a visible green tinge, suggesting seamers will enjoy some assistance on Day 1. Though a portion of the grass may be shaved off before play begins, the track is expected to offer early movement before settling slightly on Days 2 and 3.Historically known for balance between bat and ball, the pitch has recently offered more to bowlers. Since 2019, the average score across all four innings at The Oval has stayed under 300, indicating help for both pace and spin if the match progresses deep.
Later in the match, footmarks and surface wear could bring spinners into play, provided there are no major interruptions.
The toss could prove crucial, with both captains likely to favour bowling first to exploit early movement and wet overheads.