On Day 2 at The Oval, the decisive 5th Test between England and India produced one of the most volatile sessions of the 2025 Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, with England, leading the series 2–1, ultimately managing only a 23‑run first‑innings lead before India edged ahead by 52 runs at stumps. England won the toss and elected to field, reducing India to 204 for 6 at stumps on Day 1 thanks to seaming breakthroughs from Atkinson (2 for 31) and Tongue (2 for 47) in overcast conditions. On Day 2, Atkinson ripped through India’s tail to finish with 5 for 33, folding them for 224 in 69.4 overs, the second‑best bowling figures by an English pacer against India at The Oval in Tests. England’s response began explosively as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett blazed a record‑opening stand of 92 in just 12.5 overs, before India wrested control via Siraj (4 for 86) and Prasidh Krishna (4 for 62), dismantling England from 109 for 1 to 247 all‑out in 51.2 overs. In reply, India’s second innings got off to a fine start: *Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 44‑ball 51, despite being dropped twice, saw India finish Day 2 at 75 for 2 in 18 overs, thus holding a slender but promising 52‑run lead with eight wickets in hand. The day was emotionally charged too, designated as “A Day for Thorpey” in tribute to Graham Thorpe, with headbands and fundraising for mental health causes adding a poignant tone to the drama on-field. England also lost Chris Woakes to a shoulder injury and ruled him out of the rest of the match, compounding their woes alongside Ben Stokes’ earlier absence. With the match finely poised, India must win to level the series 2–2, while England will seek to seal a 3–1 series victory in the final Test.
