England's Bazball strategy faced a setback as India retaliated, marking another impressive day in cricket.
In a dramatic turn of events at The Oval, India emerged victorious in the final Test of the 2025 India vs England series, securing a 2-2 series draw. The hosts fell short by a narrow margin of six runs, with India bowling England out for 367 on the final day.
The final day began with England resuming at 339/6, needing just 17 runs with four wickets in hand. However, India's bowling attack, led by Mohammed Siraj, took the game by the scruff of the neck. Siraj dismissed Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, and Gus Atkinson in quick succession, finishing with a five-wicket haul and sealing the victory for India.
Chris Woakes, batting with a dislocated shoulder, put up a valiant effort for England. Although he didn't face a ball towards the end, he ran between the wickets, offering brief hope to the English side. Josh Tongue was also dismissed by Prasidh Krishna.
The series, which saw both teams exchanging wins, culminated in this competitive final Test. The match was marked by tense moments, including dropped catches and missed chances, but the Indian bowling attack ultimately prevailed. This outcome meant the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, newly introduced for the series, remained with India, who had won the previous series between the two teams.
On Day 4, England had shown strong batting performances, especially from Joe Root and Harry Brook, placing them in a position to win. However, the dramatic turnaround on Day 5 saw India secure a memorable win in English conditions.
Earlier in the match, India's openers, Deep and Yashasvi Jaiswal, erased England's 23-run lead. Jaiswal scored an enterprising 51, while Deep remained not out. England's openers, Zac Crawley and Ben Duckett, raced to 92-0 in 12 overs before Jacob Bethell was bowled lbw.
Crawley (64) and Ollie Pope (22) quickly departed, leaving England in a precarious position. Despite the fastest 50 opening partnership England has ever managed in a test being reached in 7 overs, India held on for one of their narrowest Test victories.
This thrilling victory marks a significant milestone for India in English conditions and sets the stage for future battles between these two cricket powerhouses.
Despite England resuming Day 5 at 339/6, needing only 17 runs with four wickets in hand, India's bowling attack, led by Mohammed Siraj, snatched the game from England's grasp. Chris Woakes, batting with a dislocated shoulder, offered a valiant effort, but India secured a historic victory in this competitive sports series.
