Former India fast-bowler Varun Aaron believes the visitors have put themselves in a strong position to win the fifth Test against England at The Oval after a spirited bowling effort in the final session on Day 4.
England need just 35 more runs to claim the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, while India require four wickets to level the series 2-2.
Varun Aaron, speaking on JioCinema, said the momentum shift after tea has given India a real chance. England were comfortably cruising towards a win on the back of Harry Brook and Joe Root’s centuries. However, the Indian bowlers took three quick wickets in the final passage of day’s play to bring themselves back into the contest.
Varun Aaron Believes India Can Win Oval Test
Aaron pointed to the rain break as an unexpected boost for India, giving the bowlers time to rest, plan, and return with renewed energy. Day 4 ended early as rain played a spoilsport. Although the weather improved, bad light forced the umpires to call stumps.
"Even a 10–15 minute extra break can do wonders for a team. It (the break on Sunday due to rain) gave the players time to regroup in the dressing room, talk strategy, and recover physically. I’m sure the message in the room was clear—‘We’ve worked too hard over the past 60 days to let this game slip.’ This team has travelled all the way from India and dominated large parts of the series. A series draw is the least they deserve. A loss from this position would really hurt. But after that spirited bowling spell post-tea, I genuinely believe India are now in a position to win this match," Aaron said as quoted on JioHotstar.
He also mentioned Prasidh Krishna’s spell against Jacob Bethell as the turning point that slowed England’s progress after they had looked comfortable during the 195-run partnership between Brook and Root.
"Bowling the right length was key because Jacob Bethell didn’t look comfortable at all. The way he stepped out was a clear sign of pressure. Prasidh wasn’t giving away easy singles, and I think Bethell’s approach disrupted England’s momentum. Until then, Harry Brook and Joe Root were rotating strike well and picking up boundaries. But the moment Bethell came in, it felt like a full stop in their innings. He couldn’t absorb the pressure—either trying to hit a four or just defending, with nothing in between. That dismissal—and more importantly, the quiet period leading up to it—brought India right back into the game," he added.
Crowd Support Lifts India’s Bowlers
Aaron praised the atmosphere at The Oval, saying the large contingent of Indian fans created an energy that helped fuel the bowlers’ intensity. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh, he said, bowled with great accuracy and discipline, that resulted in the dismissals of Bethell and Root after Brook.
"Talking about the fans, it really felt like I was watching the game at Wankhede. There were Ganpati chants, India chants—I couldn’t hear the English supporters at all. The Indian supporters are out in huge numbers, and I think it’s their energy that the Indian team is feeding off. Siraj and Prasidh bowled five high-intensity overs each after tea, and that effort resulted in two crucial wickets. Siraj was quite unlucky, as he has been throughout the day—he bowled unbelievably well. So many of his deliveries hit the pad, but he just didn’t get the LBW calls. England now find themselves in a tough spot, and I genuinely feel this break is going to do India a world of good. The bowlers get to rest, stretch, have a massage, and get some treatment from the physios. They can come back fresh and give it everything again. This post-tea session has been brilliant—accurate bowling, smart captaincy by Shubman Gill who didn’t allow easy singles, and two very important wickets," Aaron stated.
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