London, England – India clinched a dramatic six-run victory over England in the fifth and final Test at The Oval on Monday, drawing the highly anticipated Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2. The nail-biting finish saw Mohammed Siraj emerge as the hero, leading India to their narrowest-ever Test win and bringing an exhilarating series to a fitting close.
England, chasing a challenging target of 374, were ultimately bowled out for 367, falling just short of victory on the final day. The match was marked by intense fluctuations, with England's Harry Brook and Joe Root providing "splendid batting," as noted by cricket enthusiast Akshay Dodeja on social media, both scoring centuries that brought their side close to an improbable win. Dodeja further remarked on the "exhilarating" final moments, capturing the high drama that unfolded.
Mohammed Siraj delivered a match-winning performance for India, claiming 5 for 104 in the innings, including a crucial spell of 3 wickets for 9 runs on the final morning that turned the tide. This decisive spell dismantled England's lower order, securing the win after England had started Day 5 needing just 35 more runs with four wickets in hand. The series has been lauded for its competitive spirit and high-quality cricket.
Following the hard-fought draw, India's KL Rahul expressed pride in the team's resilience. "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]," Rahul told Sky Sports. England's Harry Brook, named Player of the Series for his consistent performances, echoed the sentiment, stating, "It’s been an awesome series, very intense series... It’s such a good advert for Test cricket." The 2-2 series outcome marks the second consecutive Test series between England and India in the UK to end in a draw, underscoring the fierce rivalry and balanced competition between the two cricketing powerhouses.