India struggle to find rhythm on Day 1 of the fifth and final Test at The Oval, reaching 85/3 in 29 overs by the Tea interval. England’s decision to bowl first paid off quickly, as their pacers exploited early conditions with great control. Consequently, India was put on the back foot early in the contest.

🧱 Struggle Despite Sudharsan’s Resistance

Amid the early blows, Sai Sudharsan showed solid temperament, grinding his way to 28 off 84 balls with four boundaries. Moreover, his calm approach has helped India avoid a deeper collapse heading into the final session of the day. His innings has been a lone bright spot so far.

⚠️ Struggle for Partnerships After Gill Falls

After the fall of Shubman Gill for a composed 21 off 35, India lost momentum. Then, Karun Nair, who returned to the XI, remained on 0 off 8 balls. The current partnership with Sudharsan has yielded just 2 runs in 10 balls, further highlighting the tense passage of play.

📊 India 1st Innings Scorecard (at Tea)

🇮🇳 India – 85/3 (29 Overs)

Current Run Rate: 2.93
Status: England opted to field

🏏 Batting

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Sai Sudharsan*	28	84	4	0	33.33
Karun Nair*	0	8	0	0	0.00
Yashasvi Jaiswal	23	—	—	—	—
Shubman Gill	21	35	—	—	—
KL Rahul	14	40	1	0	35.00

Fall of Wickets: 1-14 (Jaiswal), 2-50 (Gill), 3-83 (Rahul)

🤝 Partnership

Sai Sudharsan & Karun Nair – 2* (10 balls)

🎯 Bowling

Bowler	O	M	R	W	Econ
Gus Atkinson	9	3	13	1	1.44
Jamie Overton	6	0	23	0	3.83
Chris Woakes	—	—	—	1	—

🔮 England in Control as Struggle to Rebuild

With 60 overs remaining in the day, India needs a strong partnership to avoid deeper trouble. Hence, the responsibility lies with the middle-order to anchor the innings. England’s bowlers are on top, and unless a counter-attack or consolidation comes soon, India’s first innings could unravel quickly. Therefore, the next hour could define the direction of this crucial Test.

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