In a match that will go down as one of the most riveting finales in recent Test history, Mohammed Siraj scripted a masterclass in seam bowling on Day 5 at The Oval, propelling India to a sensational six-run victory over England.
The nail-biting triumph not only levelled the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 but also underscored the unyielding spirit and resilience of a young Indian side on English soil.
England, chasing a challenging 374-run target, were bowled out for 367 in the fourth innings despite centuries from Harry Brook and Joe Root on Day 4.
Going into the final day, the hosts required just 35 runs with four wickets in hand — a position from which victory seemed all but assured. However, Siraj had other plans.
The fast bowler unleashed a spell of relentless aggression and surgical precision, claiming three wickets on the final day to complete a phenomenal five-wicket haul in the second innings.
His searing in-swinging yorker to dismantle Gus Atkinson’s off stump will be etched in memory as the defining moment of the match — a ball symbolic of India’s refusal to surrender.
The day began with Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton at the crease, poised to carry England to a likely win. Overton immediately went on the offensive, taking 8 runs off Prasidh Krishna’s first over of the day, including two crisp boundaries.
But Siraj, ever the warrior, stepped up with unflinching intensity. He dismissed Smith early, inducing an outside edge that was safely pouched by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.
Siraj wasn’t done yet. In his very next over, he struck a decisive blow, trapping Overton leg-before-wicket, triggering celebrations among the Indian camp and silencing the home crowd. The pendulum had swung.
The momentum firmly with India, Prasidh Krishna then produced a scorching yorker to dismiss Josh Tongue, intensifying the drama. England, once within touching distance of a famous win, now found themselves unraveling.
The Indian bowlers maintained relentless pressure, and it paid off, sealing an extraordinary comeback win by just six runs.
Earlier, India had posted a formidable second-innings total, thanks in large part to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s elegant 118. The opener laid the foundation for India’s fightback.
Vital half-centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, along with a spirited 66-run cameo by Akash Deep, helped stretch the lead to 373 — a target that ultimately proved too steep for England.
While Siraj deservedly walked away with the Player of the Match honours, it was a team effort emblematic of India’s grit, composure, and hunger to compete till the very last ball.
The match was also momentous for Shubman Gill, who captained the Indian Test team for the first time in a full series.
The 25-year-old prodigy led from the front, amassing a jaw-dropping 754 runs across the five Tests — the second-highest tally ever by an Indian captain in England, only behind Rahul Dravid. His calm leadership and prolific batting marked a coming-of-age series for the young skipper.
For Indian fans across the globe, this pulsating draw of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy felt every bit like a series victory — a celebration of resilience, belief, and raw talent rising to the occasion under immense pressure.
The Oval Test will forever be remembered not just for its dramatic conclusion but for the emergence of a new generation of Indian cricketers ready to carry forward the legacy with pride and passion.
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