New Delhi: The Men in Blue pulled off a stunning six-run victory against England in the fifth and final Test at the Oval in London on Monday, August 4. Team India levelled the five-match series at 2-2 after a thrilling Test match.
Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets and emerged as India’s biggest hero, while Prasidh Krishna also took four wickets. Chasing the target of 374, the hosts were well placed at 339/6, but bad light and rain forced an early stumps on Day 4 evening.
Team India claimed the remaining four wickets in quick time, as England bowled out for 367 in 85.1 overs. Chris Woakes was down with a shoulder injury but walked out to bat in a sling at number 11.
England won the opening match by five wickets at Leeds, but Team India made a strong comeback in the second Test at Birmingham and defeated the hosts by 336 runs. England took the lead at Lord’s by edging out the visitors by 22 runs.
The Men in Blue produced a remarkable batting display on Day 5 of the fourth Test to draw the match in Manchester. Then came the famous comeback by the visitors after Root and Brook had smashed what looked to be series-clinching tons, but the Indian pacers made a brilliant comeback to win the Oval Test.
Key takeaways from India vs England Test series
Gill shines as top run-scorer in series
India’s debutant Test skipper, Shubman Gill, was the highest run-getter of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, scoring 754 runs in five matches at an average of 75.40, including five centuries. The 25-year-old broke several records during the series and didn’t shy away from a fiery verbal duel with England players. The next challenge for him is to convert this brilliant form into consistency. The initial impressions of his leadership are promising, but there have been some instances when his control and tactics have been questioned.
Siraj, the Bowling Dynamo
Mohammed Siraj finished the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy as the highest wicket-taker. He’s also one of the two pacers who have played every Test match of the series. He delivered a masterclass in the series, bowling inswingers, outswingers, and pinpoint yorkers. He has been relentless with the new and old ball and led the Indian pace attack from the front in Bumrah’s absence. Siraj bowled long spells throughout the series and never got tired, taking 23 wickets in five matches.
Bumrah’s fitness remains big concern
Jasprit Bumrah picked up two five-wicket hauls in his first two matches of the series. The star bowler played only three games of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, as planned by the team management and selection committee. Bumrah played in the first, third, and fourth Tests of the series, but interestingly, Team India won the second and fifth Tests in which he didn’t play. He took 14 wickets in three games, but concerns around his fitness continue to grow.
KL Rahul stands tall
KL Rahul sealed his spot as an opener with some brilliant knocks. Over the years, he has been shuffled up and down the batting order according to the team’s needs, and he has accepted the changes without any complaints. He has scored 532 in five matches and was the third-highest run-getter of the series. Rahul was the only opener to cross the 500-run mark from both teams with two hundreds and as many half-centuries.
Sir Jadeja steps up
Ravindra Jadeja picked up just seven wickets in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but the all-rounder took his batting to another level. He notched up 516 runs in the series for the first time in his career. The all-rounder scored a brilliant hundred at Old Trafford to drew the match and also kept India’s hopes alive to win the Lord’s Test. He scored another brilliant fifty to help India set a daunting target for England at the Oval.
Pant’s explosive batting lights up the series
Rishabh Pant would have been the fifth batter to cross the 500-run mark in the series if he had not broken his toe in the Manchester Test. He scored 479 runs in seven innings at an average of 68.43, smashing 17 maximums, which is the most in the series. His tour started with twin hundreds, which made him just the second wicketkeeper-batter in history to achieve this milestone. He notched up fighting fifty at Old Trafford with a fractured toe and earned a lot of respect from fans of both teams.