Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 4: Indian bowlers led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna pulled off a magnificent victory for India on the fifth day of the fifth and final test at the Oval in London on Monday levelling the eventful, memorable, and at times a little controversial five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2 with one match drawn.
Continuing to bowl with the old ball though new ball was due, Mohmmed Siraj who took three of the four wickets that fell on the fifth day, and Prasidh Krishna showed great skill and discipline to bowl out England (overnight 229 for six) for 367 chasing a target of 74 runs registering a six run victory for the visitors, their narrowest Test win in history.
The series lived up to the hype, delivering moments that will stay in memory for years to come. It was a tour that gave India answers to a few burning questions with the retirement of three stalwarts and the appointment of a young captain beginning new era under Shubman Gill. It is well and truly underway with a stunning Indian win in the final match of the tour.
England was marching towards victory at 317 for 4 at tea on day 4, riding on Harry Brook’s counter-attacking hundred and a brilliant knock from Joe Root. After completing his century, Akash Deep dismissed Harry Brook (111). Joe Root completed his 39th Test century and was dismissed for 105.
Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj joined the act to dismiss Joe Root and Jacob Bethell. Prasidh and Siraj were unstoppable after the tea break and pulled India back in the fifth Test.
Bad light stopped play on day 4 and the match went into the 25th day of the Test series. Mohammed Siraj got the wickets of Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton on the fifth day to lift the hopes of Indian fans. Mohammed Siraj (5 for 104) and Prasidh Krishna (4 for 126) were the main wicket-takers for India.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj emerged hero for India and was also chosen the player of the match with a match haul of nine wickets, including five in second innings. After the match-winning performance, Siraj said “I always believe in myself, that I can pull off a win from any situation.” The
The match was given a dramatic twist by Siraj on the fourth day when he committed a massive fielding blunder taking a catch of Harry Brook when he was only 19 but took backward steps to touch the boundary line giving a lifeline to the batsman and also conceding six runs. Brook then went on to score a century and with a fourth wicket partnership of 195 runs with Joe Root brought England within 72 runs for victory. Siraj, however, redeemed himself on the fifth day with a fiery spell claiming the three of the four wickets that India required to take within 34 runs for victory. Prasidh Krishna also took four wickets in the innings, including one on the last day, leading India’s fightback in the match.
“To be honest, it feels amazing. We wanted to fight hard from Day 1 and to see this result is great. The plan was to keep it simple and hit one spot. When I woke up today I believed that I could do it. It took a photo from Google, saying ‘BELIEVE’, to keep the hope alive!” Siraj said in a post-match interview.
“We don’t want people to see us as a young side, but a gun side” — That’s the quote that Shubman Gill tells Cheteshwar Pujara in an interview after the game. A mantra emphasized by head coach Gautam Gambhir in the dressing room. A landmark series for India, even after the retirements of Kohli, Rohit and Ashwin.
Take a moment to remember the unsung heroes of this famous win: Prasidh Krishna and Washington Sundar. Prasidh had to replace Bumrah, and ended up taking 4 wickets each in both innings. He led the fightback on Sunday dismissing Bethell and Root in the final session. And Washington Sundar. Smashed 4 sixes, and a total of 39 runs for the 10th-wicket partnership in the second innings that made the difference between defeat and victory in the game.
At the post-match presentation, Gill who was voted the player of the series for India, said, “Feels very rewarding, there were certain things I wanted to work on as a batter and it was a goal to end as the best batter of this series, glad to get that goal. It is always a combination of technique and mentality, when you are feeling good mentally then the technique naturally flows.” England captain for the series Ben Stokes, who missed the final test for Injuries, did not hide his disappointment for ending the series at 2-2. “Bitterly disappointed we couldn’t get over the line. But really proud of my team with everything they’ve put in. Disappointed we couldn’t get the series win.”
Indian captain Shubman Gill, having amassed 754 runs — the second-highest tally by an Indian batter in a Test series — has been chosen by opposition coach Brendon McCullum as India’s ‘Player of the Series’. 4 centuries, with a highest score of 269! Harry Brook was voted as England’s ‘Player of the Series’ by Gautam Gambhir.
Virat Kohli’s retirement left a big hole, and Shubman Gill has shown he’s ready to step in. Batting at no. 4, like his predecessor, he had a record-breaking series with the bat: 754 runs from 10 innings. And like his illustrious former Test teammate, Gill didn’t shy away from a fiery verbal duel with an irksome opponent. Gill has shown he’s come of age, but the next challenge for him is to translate this stunning form into consistency.
While he has shown he belongs to Test cricket, Gill has to prove he’s more than an able leader. The initial impressions are promising, but there have been instances when his control of the team and situation has been questioned. This is his first brush with full-time India captaincy and there is a home season ahead, which could help him stamp his authority.
Siraj has finished the tour as the highest wicket-taker and along with Chris Woakes of England to have played all the five matches in the series. He has been relentless skilful workhorse bowling both outswing and inswing and also pinpoint Yorker. In Bumrah’s absence, he was asked to lead the attack and he stepped up taking the responsibility.
This was also a series where KL Rahul sealed the opener’s spot for himself with authority. Over the years, he’s been shuffled up and down the batting order to suit the team’s needs. He has accepted the changes without complaining. With 532 runs from 10 innings, he finished as the third-highest run-getter of the tour. And the only opener to cross the 500-run mark from either side with two centuries and as many half-centuries.
Brief Scores:
India 224 and 396.
England 247 and 367