England Captain Stokes Withdraws From Fifth Test Against India Due To Shoulder Injury

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test against India due to a right shoulder injury sustained during the previous match, with an expected recovery period of six to seven weeks. Despite his absence, Stokes expressed confidence in his team's depth, describing them as a squad of "11 match-winners" capable of securing the series victory without him. Ollie Pope will captain England in Stokes's stead, with four changes made to the lineup, including the introduction of Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue. Meanwhile, India will also make changes, resting key pacer Jasprit Bumrah and replacing injured wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, with Dhruv Jurel likely to debut. Stokes emphasized no regrets over his withdrawal, highlighting his commitment to the team and prioritizing long-term fitness, while England's squad prepares to close out a tightly contested series at The Oval. The series stands at 2-1 in England's favor, with the final match determining whether England wins or the series ends in a draw.