- August 1, 2025
Sunil Gavaskar drops a truth bomb, and you know it reverberates through the cricketing world. This time, Gavaskar, who has opened many innings for the nation, did not hold back. When it looked like the oval pitch was mown by a lawnmower, Gavaskar completely obliterated “Arey unke paas bowling hee nahi hai” as he, and many of us, wondered why there was so much grass on the pitch, England? Desperation was Gavaskar’s blunt answer, not design. We need to look at why the conditions England rolled out for the final Test are largely green, and this Test is as much about conditions as it is about guts.
England’s Bowling Crisis: Green Pitch Easy Fix?
England’s XI for the 5th Test all but shouted their game plan before the first ball was bowled. Without Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse – three of England’s top bowlers in this series – it was hit-and-hope Central. So, after losing three of their premier bowlers, England were left with Atkinson, Tongue, and Overton. Not that they’re solid domestic names? Sure. Proven Test match winners? Not even close.
Gavaskar wasn’t throwing shade for the fun of it. With only Chris Woakes carrying over from the previous Test, England needed the pitch to do the heavy lifting. A grassy deck at The Oval isn’t just rare—it’s strategic. It gives their raw pacers a fighting chance against a solid Indian batting lineup. If you can’t bring experience, bring movement.
India’s Bold Changes and Balanced Response
But India wasn’t a passive participant in this turf war. The visitors made four changes themselves—some forced, some tactical. Out went Bumrah, Thakur, Pant, and Kamboj. In came Karun Nair, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, and Akash Deep.
While that might look like India weakened their lineup too, this was more about managing long-term workload and experimenting with combinations. Let’s not forget: India had already wrapped up the series before this Test. That gave them the rare luxury to test bench strength under pressure.
In spite of early setbacks, India was not broken. Shubman Gill and debutant Sai Sudharsan dug in like calm amid chaos, dragging India to a gritty 72/2 by the lunch break. On a surface which was meant to be used as one of England’s accelerators, India didn’t cave – they adapted. It is still early days, but the long-standing message is clear: green pitch or not, you will need more than a patch of grass to get the better of this Indian team.
Gavaskar’s Comment: Brutal Honesty or Mind Games?
Let’s talk about that Gavaskar quote again. On the surface, it’s pure banter. But there’s depth in that dig. Sunil Gavaskar is not just a legend of the game; he’s a voice that demands attention. By saying “Arey unke paas koi bowling hee hai nahin,” he’s calling out a bigger issue: England’s over-dependence on certain stars and their inability to build a sustainable bowling core.
There’s also an element of psychological warfare at play. Comments like these light fires in dressing rooms. England’s new-look attack now has something to prove. Will they step up or get steamrolled? Either way, Gavaskar has added spice to what could have been a dead rubber.
And let’s be honest—Test cricket needs these narratives. It’s the emotional subtext, the tension between commentary and play, that makes these five-day battles unforgettable. What do you think—did England outthink themselves with this surface? Or will the green gamble pay off in the end? Drop your thoughts and let’s talk cricket.
