Tensions simmered on the field during Day 4 of the fifth Test at The Oval as Yashasvi Jaiswal and England opener Ben Duckett engaged in a heated verbal exchange.
Jaiswal, animated and vocal while fielding close to the bat, taunted Duckett for his uncharacteristically cautious approach. “Come on, I want to see your shots. Play the sweep, reverse sweep. This is not your game,” Jaiswal was heard saying, referring to Duckett’s trademark aggressive stroke play that was noticeably absent in the morning session. Unfazed, Duckett snapped back: “Why should I listen to you?”
Duckett, who had lost opening partner Zak Crawley to the final ball on Day 3, showed signs of restraint early on, possibly still feeling the effects of a painful blow to the glove from Prasidh Krishna the previous evening. Nonetheless, he reached his fourth fifty of the series with a streaky boundary past gully, scoring 54 off 83 deliveries.
However, the mounting pressure from India’s disciplined pace attack, particularly Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, eventually forced a lapse in judgment. Duckett, looking to accelerate, attempted a loose drive against Krishna and edged to KL Rahul at first slip, giving India a crucial breakthrough before lunch.
By the interval, England were 164 for 3 in their chase of a formidable 374-run target, with Joe Root (23*) and Harry Brook (38*) at the crease. The hosts still required 210 runs to win, and India were effectively six wickets away from squaring the series 2-2.
Earlier in the session, India struck twice, removing Duckett and stand-in skipper Ollie Pope, further denting England’s chances. Pope was dismissed by Akash Deep after an uncertain start, nicking behind to Rishabh Pant.
While Root survived an umpire’s call on 3, Brook had a major reprieve on 19 when Siraj stepped on the boundary cushion while attempting a catch.
With the pitch offering movement under overcast skies and India’s seamers relentless in their lines, the balance remained tilted in the visitors’ favour, despite England’s recent record of chasing daunting fourth-innings targets.
As the final session beckons, the stage is set for a gripping climax to a fiercely contested series, that has delivered both high drama and world-class cricket.
