I jumped with joy — though I must admit, with some disbelief — as I sat in my living room watching the final moments of the fifth Test. England needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand. Most would have thought it was a done deal. Even I, a lifelong cricketer, momentarily gave in to doubt. But thankfully, I didn’t switch off the TV.
What unfolded in those tense final overs was a lesson in grit, resilience, and the unshakable spirit of a young Indian team.
Let’s start with the hero of the moment — Mohammad Siraj. With our strike bowler and captain, Jasprit Bumrah, opting to sit out, and no Rishabh Pant behind the stumps, this depleted Indian side had its back against the wall. But Siraj, our very own Hyderabadi, rose like a warrior. On Day 5, with England needing a mere handful of runs to win the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, he bowled as if possessed — channelling every ounce of experience and energy to rattle the tail. His spell in the final session, picking up three of the last four wickets, was nothing short of magic.
And then there was Prasidh Krishna — raw, tall, and aggressive — who had gone for runs early in the match but bounced back commendably on Day 4 to claim three crucial wickets and break England’s momentum. He softened the middle order just enough for Siraj to finish the job.
This Test victory didn’t just level the series 2-2. It made a statement. It proved that this Indian side — young, written off, and under immense pressure — could punch above its weight in English conditions. And at the centre of it all stood a composed, calculating, and courageous new leader: Shubman Gill.
When the series began, few gave this team a chance. England, riding high on Bazball swagger, drew first blood at Headingley. Then came the second Test at Edgbaston, where India responded admirably with a thumping win, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 87 and Shubman Gill’s masterful 269, alongside Akash Deep’s 4 for 88 and 6 for 99. But England struck back in the third Test at Lord’s, taking a 2-1 lead and setting up what many believed would be a series win.
But India wasn’t done. The fourth Test, played at Old Trafford, proved crucial. With England piling on a huge score, India fought hard to save the match, thanks to a gritty 66 from debutant Akash Deep and a brave rearguard effort from the lower order. That subtly shifted the momentum. The belief crept back.
Heading into the fifth Test at The Oval, Shubman Gill knew the weight on his shoulders. A new captain, minus the aura of Kohli or the calm of Rohit, Gill still wore leadership like a second skin. His century in the first innings (104 off 178) set the tone. He rotated bowlers intelligently, backed his spinners even when they went for runs, and — most importantly — never let the team’s body language drop. Akash Deep once again chipped in with a valuable 66 in the second innings.
Jaiswal led the way with a superb 118 in the second innings. Gill followed it up with a captain’s knock of 119, while Karun Nair (73) and Washington Sundar (53) provided crucial support. This time, England’s bowlers struggled to make any real dent as India posted 396.
Critics may have sharpened their knives early, especially for Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, who took charge just weeks before the tour. Some questioned his methods, his bluntness, even his decision to back youth over experience. But this series proved that Gambhir’s vision of a fearless, flexible, and fighting India was spot on. He let Shubman lead in his style, and the result is there for all to see.
For those still asking, “Where is India’s bench strength?”, I say look again. Jaiswal, Akash Deep, Prasidh, and of course, Siraj — all stepped up. This wasn’t just a series draw; it was a coming-of-age for a new era in Indian cricket.
An interesting footnote: Jasprit Bumrah, though he played the first, third, and fourth Tests, couldn’t engineer a win. But in the one match he sat out — the final Test — it was the other pacers who rose to the occasion. Did Siraj, Prasidh, and Akash Deep feel freed to lead? Perhaps. And they delivered.
As for me — a former cricketer who’s seen many glorious wins — this one felt personal. It wasn’t just a win over England. It was a win over doubt, over adversity, and over all the noise that said, “They’re not ready yet.”
Well done, Siraj. Well done, Team India. And take a bow, Captain Shubman.
