India secures a thrilling victory over England, with Siraj leading the charge, resulting in a drawn series.
Mohammed Siraj's stunning five-wicket haul on the final day of the fifth Test at The Oval was the defining factor in India's narrow six-run victory over England, marking India's closest-ever Test win.
Siraj took key wickets including those of Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, and Gus Atkinson, finishing with a career-best performance that propelled India to bowl England out for 367 while chasing 374.
The match, which ended under grey skies, was one of the all-time best test matches, according to England coach Brendon McCullum. England required 35 runs to complete their second-highest test run chase, but a series of collapses towards the end saw them lose their last seven wickets for 66 runs.
Siraj took a total of nine wickets in the match, including four in the first innings and his fifth five-wicket haul in the second innings, earning him the Player of the Match award. His wickets on the final morning—three out of four that fell—were crucial in breaking England’s resistance and securing the win.
Despite a fielding error on Day 4 that allowed Harry Brook to score a century, Siraj redeemed himself with his lethal bowling spell on Day 5. Prasidh Krishna also contributed significantly with four wickets on Day 4, helping set up the final day victory scenario.
Siraj’s performance made him the top wicket-taker of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series with 23 wickets, joining an elite group of Indian pacers like Kapil Dev and Jasprit Bumrah who have taken 20+ wickets in multiple series.
Post-match, Siraj confidently addressed questions about his form, citing his 20 wickets in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, emphasizing his consistent impact alongside lead bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. The victory secured a 2-2 series draw in a fiercely competitive series with all five Tests going down to the final day, showcasing high-quality Test cricket.
Shubman Gill, India's captain, expressed happiness about getting the win, and praised Chris Woakes's bravery after the match. Woakes walked out to bat wearing a sling to protect his dislocated shoulder with 17 runs still needed, but was not required to face a ball due to England's collapse.
However, Siraj's error of dropping Harry Brook on 19 initially looked likely to cost India the match. Brook's reckless dismissal prompted the collapse for England, and McCullum admitted that Siraj and the passion of the Indian boys were too strong for England.
India did a lap of honor after winning the test match, celebrating their historic victory in a series that fluctuated wildly over seven weeks. The Oval was full for the final act of this thrilling series.
Games and sports were the center of attention during the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, with Siraj's breathtaking performances in cricket becoming a spectacle, especially his nine-wicket haul across the match, which included a five-wicket haul in a single innings. This stellar display of games might have sealed his spot as one of the top sports figures for the series.
