India vs England 5th Test: Rain threat looms over The Oval clash; full pitch report

India and England are set to face off in the fifth and final Test of the series, beginning Thursday at the Kennington Oval in London. With England leading 2-1, India will be aiming to square the series and avoid a series defeat.After an up-and-down performance in the Manchester Test, the Indian team faces a few key selection calls. While the batting unit delivered a spirited fightback, the bowling department lacked bite. Debutant Anshul Kamboj struggled with pace and accuracy, and the rest of the attack failed to build consistent pressure on the English batters.With Rishabh Pant ruled out due to injury, Dhruv Jurel is expected to return as the wicketkeeper in a direct replacement. In the bowling department, changes appear likely as India look to inject more sharpness and control into the attack.England, on the other hand, will be disappointed not to have wrapped up the series in Manchester, having dominated large portions of the match. A major concern for them heading into the final Test is the fatigue of their pace battery. Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes have featured in all four matches so far, and with workload management in mind, England are expected to rotate their fast bowlers.Adding to their woes is the absence of skipper Ben Stokes, who has been ruled out of the Oval Test due to a shoulder injury. Ollie Pope will lead the side in his absence. England have already announced four changes to their playing XI, bringing in Jacob Bethell, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue.According to Accuweather, rain is expected during the first two days of the Test. This forecast could influence the toss decision, with the winning captain likely to opt to bowl first to exploit early seam and swing conditions.The Oval is known for offering one of the most balanced wickets in England. While the dry summer has made pitches behave similarly across venues, the Oval typically assists seamers on Day 1, becomes batting-friendly on Days 2 and 3, and offers some turn for spinners in the final two days.