On the last day of the fifth Test at The Oval, India pulled off one of their greatest comebacks in Test history, defeating England by an incredible six runs to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2 on a gloomy and tense London morning.
With four wickets remaining and just 35 runs needed, England returned as the favorites to win the series 3-1. However, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna’s incredible seam bowling performance that followed turned the tide and made this young Indian squad legendary with their sharp outburst.
Early in the day, Siraj, India’s unwavering workhorse, delivered a devastating double punch. The first to go was Jamie Smith, who cautiously edged behind Dhruv Jurel after prodding outside off; a definite UltraEdge spike verified the catch.
Shortly after, Siraj used a savage nip-backer to trap Jamie Overton in front. The ball-tracking confirmed Kumar Dharmasena’s decision—the umpire’s verdict on the stumps—and Overton was out, despite England’s hopeful review.
Prasidh Krishna surprised the Oval crowd with a thunderbolt yorker at 141 kmph, flattening Josh Tongue both literally and figuratively. England had fallen from 347 for 6 to 354 for 9. Chris Woakes, with a clearly dislocated shoulder, stepped out and joined Gus Atkinson in trying to score another twenty runs despite the discomfort.
However, India wasn’t finished. The decisive blow came from Siraj, who had been India’s mainstay throughout the series. His flawless yorker beat Atkinson and clattered into the off stump. India won by the fewest number of runs in Test history, and the Oval exploded when Siraj wheeled away in a “Siuu” celebration.
In the absence of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who had both retired from the longest format prior to the tour, the victory completed an incredible comeback for a young Indian team captained by Shubman Gill.
Although England had their moments—Joe Root and Harry Brook’s incredible centuries on Day 4 nearly put them out of the game—India’s discipline, deft fielding, and persistent battle won out.
The final score of 2-2 for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is a fitting tribute to five Test matches full of unrelenting intensity, twists, and unforgettable cricket.
