In one of the most gripping finishes in recent Test cricket history, India edged out England by six runs in the fifth and final Test at The Oval, leveling the series 2-2. The match was filled with tension, momentum shifts, and individual brilliance—none greater than that of Mohd. Siraj, who delivered a career-defining performance when it mattered most.
Put in to bat under grey skies, India faltered early. England’s bowlers made the most of the seam-friendly conditions, with Gus Atkinson claiming five wickets and Josh Tongue removing three. Karun Nair’s fighting 57 helped India reach 224, a total that appeared below par at first glance.
England responded solidly, led by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. At 150/2, they looked in control until Mohd. Siraj turned the game. Using reverse swing to perfection, he rattled the middle order, finishing with 4/86 in the first innings. His pace partner, Prasidh Krishna, matched the effort with 4/62, helping limit England’s lead to just 23 runs.
India’s second innings was defined by grit and resolve. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fluent 118 set the tone, but it was Akash Deep’s unexpected 66 as nightwatchman that swung the momentum. Contributions from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar pushed the total to 396, leaving England with a target of 374.
Chasing a steep score, England rode on centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook. At 301/3, with both set batters in command, the hosts were cruising. But Mohd. Siraj came back for a final spell that shifted the narrative once again. He removed Root, then struck twice more to complete a memorable five-wicket haul. Krishna backed him up brilliantly, dismissing Brook and running through the tail.
England collapsed to 367 all out, just six runs short of victory. The Oval erupted in applause—not for the home side, but for India’s unyielding spirit and Mohd. Siraj’s match figures of 9 wickets. It was a fitting end to a fiercely contested series, with Siraj emerging as India’s match-winner and a symbol of their fighting resilience on foreign soil.
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