India pulled off a sensational six-run victory against England in the fifth and final Test at The Oval, drawing the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2. In a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire, India showcased remarkable resilience and determination, backing up Captain Shubman Gill's pre-match declaration that the team would "never give up".
England, chasing a target of 374, were bowled out for 367, succumbing to a brilliant display of fast bowling led by Mohammed Siraj, who finished with figures of 5 for 104. The victory was India's narrowest ever in Test cricket.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with momentum swinging between the two sides. England began the final day needing just 35 runs with four wickets in hand. However, Siraj triggered a collapse, taking three wickets in quick succession to leave England reeling. Despite a brave effort from Gus Atkinson, who hit a six off Siraj, the Indian pacer ultimately sealed the win by clean bowling Atkinson for 17.
Gill lauded his team's fighting spirit and highlighted Siraj's exceptional performance. "We never give up," Gill said. "The way both teams played throughout the series, coming into Day 5 not knowing who would win, shows both came with their A game. Really happy we managed to get over the line in this one". He also praised the efforts of Prasidh Krishna, who took four crucial wickets in the match. "When you have bowlers like Siraj and Prasidh like that, captaincy looks easy," Gill added.
Siraj, who was named Player of the Match, said he always believed he could win the game from any situation. "To be honest, it feels amazing," Siraj said. "We wanted to fight hard from Day 1 and to see this result is great. The plan was to keep it simple and hit one spot. When I woke up today I believed that I could do it today".
The victory at The Oval was particularly significant for India, as it came after the retirements of key players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. Gill, who was leading the Test side for the first time, emphasized the importance of instilling a never-say-die attitude in the team.
Gill was also named India's Player of the Series for his outstanding batting performances throughout the five Test matches. He scored 754 runs in the series. Harry Brook was named England's Player of the Series.
Reflecting on the series, Gill said that his aim was to be the best batter and he was very satisfied with his performance. He also highlighted the correlation between technical and mental aspects of the game. "It is always a combination of technique and mentality, when you are feeling good mentally then the technique naturally flows," Gill said.
The thrilling win at The Oval not only leveled the series but also demonstrated the resilience and fighting spirit of the young Indian team. Gill's leadership and the team's determination to never give up were key factors in India's memorable victory. KL Rahul hailed Gill's leadership and said that he has the potential to take the Indian Test team to great heights.
