England Stand-in Captain Ollie Pope Wins Toss, India Bat First at Oval Test

Ollie Pope is captaining England in the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval due to Ben Stokes' shoulder injury, making several team changes including four new bowlers. Pope won the toss and elected to bowl first on a green-tinged pitch and overcast conditions, a decision viewed as advantageous given the swing-friendly conditions and England's strong seam attack. India, led by Shubman Gill, has now lost the toss 15 consecutive times across formats and five times in this series, an unusual and statistically rare streak. The match start was delayed by rain, raising concerns about weather disruptions, but conditions remain favorable for England's bowlers. Pope has a strong personal record at The Oval, averaging over 64 with one century and two half-centuries in three Tests, and is known for his reliable number three batting position. England currently leads the series 2-1, while India must win to avoid defeat in the series.