Former Pakistan cricketer Shabbir Ahmed made shocking accusations against Team India following their emphatic win over England in the fifth Test at the Oval.
India were down and out when Harry Brook and Joe Root were going all guns blazing and took England to 301-3 in a chase of 374, but Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna led India’s spirited fightback and bowled out England for 367, helping the team win the game by six runs.
The pitch at the Oval was the best wicket of the series, where the bowlers had even say. Even on Day 5, the old ball swung ferociously, making batting extremely difficult. India had the option to take the new ball after the 80th over, but the old ball was moving sharply; thus, India stuck to it, and it paid off.
However, Shabbir smelled something fishy and accused the Indian team of ball-tampering. Shabbir took to X and urged the umpires to send the ball for lab testing.
“I think India used Vaseline. After 80 + over Ball still shine like new Umpire should send this ball to lab for examine,” he wrote on X.
New Look India Make A Massive Statement
India came to England without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and didn’t have Jasprit Bumrah for two big games. They lost Rishabh Pant for the must-win final Test due to injury, and had many players who were playing in England for the first time. Yet, throughout the series, India had the upper hand on England.
Yes, they did lose two games, but they were the better team in those games, but the inability to capitalise on big moments cost them the defeats. But the team returned to India proudly, drawing the series 2-2. The good part of the series was that evey player who stepped on the park for India was able to justify his selection.