IND vs ENG: Cricket fraternity reacts to India’s gritty Oval thriller to level series with England

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New Delhi: In a heart-stopping finish at The Oval, India pulled off one of their most dramatic Test wins in recent memory, defeating England by six runs to level the five-match series 2-2. What looked like a smooth chase for the hosts turned into chaos on the final day of the fifth Test as the Indian bowlers led by Mohammed Siraj in the absence of Bumrah roared back into the contest.

With four wickets in hand and just 35 runs needed, England held the edge at the start of the day. But the gladiator in Siraj made life miserable for the opposition batters from the very first ball. Siraj, who took three of the last five wickets and finished with match figures of 9 for 190, delivered when it mattered most. His final strike to dismiss the last man standing, Gus Atkinson, triggered wild celebrations as he sprinted off doing Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration.

Joe Root and Harry Brook’s gritty centuries went in vain as India’s belief never wavered, even when the odds leaned heavily in England’s favour. Siraj took matters into his own hands after dropping Brook’s catch earlier on Day 4, a moment that cost India lot of runs later on. But he bounced back in style, taking charge and helping the Men in Blue pull off an improbable comeback.

The thrilling finale sparked widespread reactions from the cricketing fraternity with current and former players praising India’s resilience. From Siraj’s fiery spells to young Shubman Gill’s leadership, the win was celebrated as a complete team effort.

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