Two days before the start of the crucial fifth and final Test against England, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange of words with The Oval’s pitch curator Lee Fortis during the visitors’ optional training session on Tuesday.
India vice-captain Rishabh Pant, ruled out of the decisive fifth Test at The Oval due to a fractured right foot, shared an emotional message as he prepared to begin his rehab journey.
After winning the toss, England got off to a positive start with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett enduring a tough first hour in swinging conditions before lifting the visitors to 64 for 0 with their seventh 45-plus stand in nine partnerships on this tour. However, that scoreline was 175 for 6 by the time Ben Stokes became Kuldeep’s fifth and final scalp, and ultimately 218 all out with Ashwin running through the tail.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has apologized to the fans for the cancellation of the match
