A sensational performance by India saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval on Monday, securing a series draw. In a nail-biting finish, India triumphed by just six runs, leveling the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2.
England began the final day needing only 35 runs with four wickets in hand to win the match and clinch the series. However, Mohammed Siraj spearheaded a dramatic turnaround, claiming three wickets for just nine runs in a breathtaking spell, ultimately finishing with figures of 5 for 104. This included the crucial wickets of Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton, leaving England teetering at 354/8.
Adding to the drama, Chris Woakes, battling a shoulder injury, emerged to bat with his arm in a sling. With 17 runs still required, Gus Atkinson briefly raised English hopes with a six off Siraj. However, Siraj sealed the victory by clean bowling Atkinson for 17, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Indian team and their supporters.
The thrilling victory was India's narrowest ever in Test cricket. Reflecting on the win, KL Rahul acknowledged the team's resilience throughout the series, stating, "For us as a team that wasn't given a chance in this series, for us to fight back and fight in every game and get a result which is 2-2 (is great)". He further emphasized the significance of the draw for the future of Indian Test cricket, adding, "It might seem like a draw but for Indian Test cricket going into the future it will rank right at the top. From this, we will go on and win many more series outside of India".
Despite Woakes' heroic appearance, it was Siraj who stole the show with his match-winning spell. His performance not only secured the win but also earned him the Player of the Match award. Throughout the series, Siraj consistently troubled the English batsmen, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 23 scalps at an average of 32.43. Prasidh Krishna also played a vital role, taking four wickets in the match, including crucial dismissals of key batsmen.
The series was hard-fought, with momentum swinging between the two sides. England won the first Test by five wickets, while India bounced back to win the second Test by 336 runs. England then edged a close third Test by 22 runs, before the fourth Test ended in a draw. The dramatic finale at The Oval ensured the series will be remembered as a classic.
Former India captain Virat Kohli and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the team's performance and Mohammed Siraj after the thrilling win. Yadav expressed that the win felt like a 3-2 series victory. Shubman Gill, in his first series as Test captain, successfully led the team to a series-levelling draw.
The India-England series was also notable for several records. A total of 7187 runs were scored, making it the second-highest run aggregate in Test history. The series also equaled the record for the most 300+ scores, with 14 team totals exceeding 300.
