Mohammed Siraj produced a spell for the ages at The Oval, claiming five wickets in the second innings to power India to a dramatic six-run victory over England in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy Test series. The 31-year-old pacer finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 23 scalps, earning the Player of the Match award and helping India square the five-match battle 2–2.

The final day began with India needing four wickets and England requiring just 35 runs. The hosts gained early momentum when Jamie Overton cracked two boundaries off Prasidh Krishna’s opening deliveries. But Siraj quickly tilted the contest in India’s favour, removing Jamie Smith in his first over of the day. He then snared two more vital wickets, including the decisive dismissal of Gus Atkinson with a perfectly executed yorker when England were just seven runs short of the target.

Even ICC Elite Panel umpire Kumar Dharmasena was captivated, sharing a photograph of Siraj’s match-winning ball on Instagram with the caption: “So lucky to witness this ball from the best seat in the house.”

The victory was particularly satisfying for Siraj after the disappointment of the Lord’s Test, where a freak incident saw the ball roll back onto his stumps. His outstanding series has now propelled him to 15th place in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings.

From Dropped Catch to Match Winner – Siraj’s Grit Defines India’s Triumph at The Oval

Siraj’s performance at The Oval was not without its hurdles. On Day 4, he dropped Harry Brook near the boundary ropes, a reprieve that allowed the England batter to go on and score 111. Brook and Joe Root’s 195-run stand for the fourth wicket had put England firmly in control in their chase of 374. Yet, Siraj’s resilience shone through, leading the Indian attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and delivering under pressure.

Kumar Dharmasena's Instagram post for the Iconic Oval Test. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/SUU9AHNZLk

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 12, 2025

His influence wasn’t limited to The Oval. In the Edgbaston Test, India’s most dominant win of the series by 336 runs, Siraj took six wickets in the first innings to set the tone. The pacer marked his Oval triumph with a Cristiano Ronaldo-style celebration after taking the final wicket, capping off a nine-wicket haul in the match. His relentless accuracy, ability to move the ball, and knack for breaking partnerships underlined his growing stature as India’s pace spearhead.

In a series where conditions demanded skill and patience, Siraj emerged as India’s workhorse, a bowler who could be trusted with the ball when the game hung in the balance. This tour may well be remembered as the moment Mohammed Siraj fully arrived as a world-class Test fast bowler.

The Oval pitch curator, Lee Fortis, has defended himself after a controversy involving India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, during the fifth Test. Fortis said he was made to look like a villain just because he was protective about the main pitch area. He even compared the exciting Test match to the IPL, as it lasted nearly five full days.

A few days before the Oval Test, Gautam Gambhir was seen having a heated argument with the Oval’s head curator, Lee Fortis. It was not a pleasant scene, as Gambhir was seen shouting at Fortis over a small matter.

In the same video, Gambhir was also heard saying, “You are just a groundsman” to Fortis. This clip went viral on social media and got strong reactions. Later in the video, Fortis was seen warning Gambhir to stop using bad language or he would be reported.

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India Wins Thriller, But Tension Off the Field

India won the final Test by six runs in a thrilling finish, tying the series 2-2. After the match, Oval pitch curator Lee Fortis spoke about the controversy with Gautam Gambhir. He told PTI/NDTV:

“Well, I was never the villain; I was made into one. Hope you guys enjoyed the show, and the atmosphere was like the IPL. It was a great game.”

The incident happened when Indian coaches were told to stay 2.5 metres away from the pitch. This didn’t go well with the Indian team. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak shared in a press conference (via Indian Express):

“When we went to see the pitch, we were asked to keep a 2.5-metre distance. This was surprising. The Test was just a few days away, and we were wearing joggers. So it felt a bit odd.”

He added, “We all have played enough cricket. Curators are usually protective of the ground, but they should understand that they are speaking to skilled and experienced people.”

Fortis Stays Focused Despite Drama

During the heated exchange, Gambhir called Fortis “just a groundsman,” which upset the Indian camp. Fortis didn’t say much at the time but called Gambhir “tetchy” before the big match.

Fortis, who has won the ECB Curator of the Year award three times in a row, is known for being dedicated to his work. Soon after Siraj bowled Gus Atkinson to seal the win for India, Fortis was already back near the main pitch, preparing for The Hundred games starting August 9.

Even after the crowd had left the stadium, Fortis continued his work calmly. His actions, like driving the heavy roller before play, caught the eye of the Indian media. Locals describe the 7-foot-tall Fortis as an “interesting” person who takes his job very seriously.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has picked captain Shubman Gill as the best performer for India in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw on Monday, August 4, with India winning the last match by six runs at the Kennington Oval in London.

Many experts and fans wanted Kuldeep Yadav to play as a specialist spinner, but Pathan said the team did not listen to the “outside noise.” Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were the top performers in the last game as the Shubman Gill-led team pulled off a great six-run win over England to level the series 2-2.

Gill had an outstanding series. He scored 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40, including four centuries. In a video on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, August 6, Pathan gave Gill 9.5 out of 10 for his performance. He praised Gill for answering his critics and said that the young captain has improved his game a lot.

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Pathan Gives Gill 9.5 Out of 10

“9.5 out of 10 points for Captain Shubman Gill. When this series started, there were a lot of questions about his performance. His average of 35 was often mentioned. But by the end of the series, he pushed his average above 40. He scored more than 700 runs and broke many records. We saw four centuries from him and clear improvement in his batting,” Pathan said.

He added, “The way he improved his defense and managed the game was commendable. And then there is his captaincy. He will definitely get better at that. There is still some room for improvement, but the way he handled both batting and captaincy was praiseworthy.”

Praise for Smart Captaincy in Oval Test

The 40-year-old praised Gill’s leadership on the final day of the Oval Test, highlighting his smart decision to continue with the old ball instead of taking the new one. Pathan said:

“On the final day, I really liked his captaincy. The plan of not bowling too much on the stumps and targeting outside off-stump was impressive. The swing was happening nicely. That bluff with the yorker against Zak Crawley, with the fielder placed outside, was smart. The coordination between the bowler and captain was very good. The decision to keep the old ball instead of taking the new one was also great. So overall, 9.5 out of 10 for Shubman Gill.”

The 25-year-old has now played 37 Tests and scored 2,647 runs at an average of 41.35, with seven fifties and nine centuries.

The recent five-match Test series between England and India was full of excitement, with antics in every game. After losing at Lord's and Nottingham and trailing 1-2, India drew in Manchester and won the final game decisively at The Oval by six runs. In a fierce competition for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the series ended in a draw at 2-2. England’s Harry Brook and India’s Shubman Gill were named joint Players of the Series, though Brook graciously declined the honour, believing someone else was more deserving of the recognition.

Despite amassing 481 runs at an impressive average of 53.44, including two centuries and a score of 99, Harry Brook felt Joe Root was the standout performer for England. Brook played a key role in the final Test at The Oval, scoring a valiant 111 in the fourth innings, nearly taking England to a historic chase. Still, he publicly stated that Root's consistent brilliance throughout the series, particularly his three centuries and overall impact, made him the rightful recipient of the Player of the Series award.

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Joe Root emerged as England’s top run-scorer with 537 runs at an average of 67, including a memorable century at The Oval. That final ton was particularly emotional as Root donned a special headband to pay homage to his former mentor Graham Thorpe. His partnership with Brook for 195 runs in the final innings almost won England the game. Ultimately, Root's dismissal triggered a sensational collapse, with India taking seven wickets, costing only 66 runs to clinch the win in exciting style and level the series. 

"I didn't score as many runs as Rooty (Joe Root), so I probably think he should be Man of the Series or Man of the Summer. He has been for many years," Brook told in an interview with BBC.

Watch the video here;

When, one by one, cricket pundits predicted a series win for England over India for the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, Dinesh Karthik chose to go opposite to the flow. After the 5th test of the 5-match series, only Karthik's prediction proved absolutely on point. Before the series, he said that the series could conclude with a 2-2 scoreline, a draw.

After the culmination of the India-England rivalry for the prestigious title, the former India international reminded his followers on social media about his early prediction. Cricket experts like Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain, Alastair Cook, Graeme Swann, David Lloyd, Phil Tufnell, and many others said that England could win the series.

Even Dale Steyn and Aakash Chopra also believed that the host had the better chance to claim the trophy. Chopra and Steyn predicted a 3-2 series win for the England cricket team, while Lloyd said the scoreline could be shaped 4-0 for England. Eventually they all went wrong, and Dinesh Karthik, who said the series could end in a 2-2 draw, emerged as the right man on the occasion.

 

 

 

 

 

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Who will win The Ashes 2025?

After the thrilling encounter in Australia, focus started to shift towards the upcoming Ashes series, where England will face their archrival, Australia. Who can win the prestigious trophy, England or Australia? Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket, former England captain Nasser Hussain asked Dinesh Karthik to predict the scoreline for the upcoming Ashes series, which will start in November. This time too, Karthik feels that England will not be able to win. He said, "3-2 Australia." 

England last won an Ashes series in Australia way back in 2010 to 2011, with a 3-1 victory. Since then, Australia has proved to be the dominant force over England. 

Former England pacer Stuart Broad praised Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj for his outstanding performance in the fifth and final Test at The Oval. Playing his fifth consecutive match in the series, the 31-year-old showed great stamina and fighting spirit to help India win by just six runs.

India made a strong comeback by reducing England from 301/3 to 337/6 during their chase of 374 in the final session on Day 4. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Broad said that while many people thought the early end to Day 4 broke India’s momentum, it actually helped from a bowler’s point of view.

Siraj Shines with Match-Winning Spell at The Oval

Mohammed Siraj helped India fight back in the first innings by taking four key wickets when England looked strong at 129/1 while chasing India's 224. But his most important spell came in the final innings. He took five wickets and helped India bowl England out for 367 in their chase of 374, turning the match in India’s favor.

After the match, former England pacer Stuart Broad praised Siraj on Sky Sports and said: "I am delighted for Mohammed Siraj. Hopefully, I get an opportunity to shake his hands because I was worried yesterday that we would be talking about that dropped catch (Brook's drop). And it would be the catch he would be boarding that plane home thinking, ‘If I had taken that, could things have been different?’"

Broad added: "For a bowler who gave everything in the series, he deserved to take the final wicket and be remembered for bowling his team to an exciting Test win instead of for a mistake on the boundary."

Siraj was named Player of the Match and finished as the highest wicket-taker of the series with 23 wickets in five Tests.

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“India Deserved Something from the Series” – Broad

Stuart Broad also said that the 2-2 draw was a fair result and praised both teams for their efforts. He shared: "India definitely deserved something out of the series. If you look at all the Test matches, they could have won, so they deserved something out of the series. Maybe not a win, because England also played some fantastic cricket."

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri called the draw a massive result, especially because the team missed senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah in some matches.

Shubman Gill, who led India for the first time in a Test series, scored 754 runs at an average of 75.40, including four centuries, and ended the series as the highest run-scorer. Siraj, under pressure, delivered one of his best performances with nine wickets in the final Test and led India to a six-run win at The Oval.

Team India brought immense joy to cricket fans with a spectacular six-run win over England at The Oval on Monday in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 series, with the series now tied at 2-2. After a final that exhilarating, it was one of India's most memorable Test wins in England, and the celebrations were equally emotional and electrifying.

The final wicket was taken by Mohammed Siraj, and Bollywood star Suniel Shetty, who was present in the stands on Day 5, was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t restrain himself. The actor was captured on video screaming with joy in the stands. Suniel, together with Ahan Shetty, who is his son, shared videos on Instagram while celebrating India's spectacular comeback together with the fans.

The series was dominated by KL Rahul, who is also Suniel’s son-in-law as well; he was the third-highest run-scorer throughout the series. He scored 532 runs in 10 innings at an average of 53.20, including two centuries and two fifties, with a top score of 137. Under Shubman Gill’s leadership, the Indian team showed great composure and character to bounce back and end the five-match series on level terms.

India’s fightback with bat and ball

After England opted to bowl first, India managed just 224 in their first innings, with Karun Nair’s gritty fifty being the standout. In response, fifties from Zak Crawley and Harry Brook pushed England to 247, gaining a 23-run lead, with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna taking four wickets each.

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See Also: Mohammed Siraj shows Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired 'Believe' wallpaper on phone after India wins against ENG in 5th Test

India responded strongly in their second innings, posting 396 thanks to a superb century by Yashasvi Jaiswal. That gave them a 373-run target to defend. England seemed to be dominating the game at 317/4 with centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook, but a sensational late burst from Siraj, Krishna, and Akash Deep turned the match on its head. Siraj’s five-wicket haul was the big moment of the incredible win and still was the highlight of the unbelievable Test series.

Mohammed Siraj played a pivotal role in India's thrilling six-run victory over England in the fifth and final Test at The Oval, which leveled the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 series at 2-2. Following the exhilarating win, Siraj shared his phone wallpaper with his hero football player Cristiano Ronaldo and a strong one-word word. — "Believe." That word, he said, had driven him throughout the match.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Siraj was asked about his emotions after taking the final wicket. In his trademark Hyderabadi humor, he said, “Actually, DK bhai (Dinesh Karthik) started asking questions in English, so at that point all emotions went away," prompting laughter from everyone present. He then shared how Ravindra Jadeja’s words had emotionally charged him to push harder during the final day’s grind. “Jaddu bhai ne bola, ki apne father ke barein mein soch aur kitna takleef unhone uthaya aur tujhe unke liye yeh karna (win) hai,” Siraj recounted, speaking about his late father.

With Jasprit Bumrah missing from the lineup, Siraj emerged as India’s pace spearhead, bowling a total of 185.3 overs in the series and claiming 23 wickets. His match haul of 9 wickets at The Oval, including 5 for 104 in the final innings, proved vital in India's series-saving win. “Body is fine… I don’t care if it’s the sixth over or the ninth over for me. I don’t bowl for myself; it is for my country," he declared.

'Believe' was his mantra, Bumrah or not

Siraj revealed that he began his day with a powerful ritual. “I woke up in the morning, checked Google on my phone, took out a ‘Believe’ emoji wallpaper, and told myself that I will do it for the country." That single word, inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, echoed in his mind throughout the day’s toil.

SIRAJ SHOWING THE WALL-PAPER ON PHONE - CR 7, RONALDO...!!! 💥 pic.twitter.com/paClFlFHxT

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 4, 2025

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In his post-match conversation with Dinesh Karthik on Jio Hotstar, Siraj reflected on his never-say-die mindset. “I always believe that I can win the game from any point, and this morning was no different.” Despite the pressure, Siraj stuck to his basics. “My only plan was to bowl in good areas. Didn’t matter if I took wickets or went for runs,” he added, having etched his name in India’s red-ball legacy.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on Shubman Gill and his young team for their thrilling win in the fifth and final Test against England. India clinched the game by six runs on Day 5 at The Oval, successfully defending 374 by dismissing England for 367. Despite missing several senior players, the visitors managed to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 series 2-2.

Chopra, in a video on his YouTube channel, emphasized India's accomplishment without the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who had retired from Test cricket before the series. Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant were also unavailable for the tour, yet the team delivered when it mattered most. “Wow, India, wow, History has been created. The match has been won on the Oval ground, and the series has ended at 2-2. They have registered the smallest-margin win in India's Test cricket history,” he said.

Calling the victory “magical” and “fantastical,” Chopra applauded the team’s resilience. “This young team has beaten the opposing team, and we are really proud of you, Team India. These people are different. The biggest learning is not to give up on this team,” he remarked. Chopra acknowledged the team went beyond his expectations. Chopra revealed he expected a 3-2 loss in the series.

Gill’s captaincy earns praise

Chopra was particularly impressed by Shubman Gill’s decision-making under pressure on the final day. He highlighted how Gill chose not to take the new ball even when it was due, understanding that the older ball was still doing enough. “There is a temptation because the new ball was due. He resisted the temptation to take the new ball because the ball was moving,” Chopra pointed out.

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He also noted Gill’s precise field placements that made a critical difference. “A fielder was placed at third man. Gus Atkinson swung his bat, and the fielder was standing almost behind second slip. If he had not been standing there, it would have been a four, and then you never know,” he said. Chopra acknowledged that while Gill is still learning, he managed the team well despite constant comparisons with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

It is well known that India’s pace bowler Mohammed Siraj is a big fan of football star Cristiano Ronaldo. He is one of the few bowlers who copies the Portuguese legend’s ‘Siuu’ celebration after taking a wicket.

On Monday, soon after winning the player-of-the-match award in India’s 6-run victory over England in the fifth Test at The Oval, Siraj shared how he got inspiration from Ronaldo before going onto the field.

The Indian pacer showed his phone wallpaper after playing a key role in India’s 6-run win over England in the fifth and final Test at The Oval. The victory helped India level the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2 on Monday. The wallpaper featured Cristiano Ronaldo and one word that became his motivation — ‘Believe’.

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Siraj Finds Inspiration in Ronaldo

"Usually I get up at 8 am, but today I woke up at 6. Then I kept thinking, so I went on Google, found this image, and made it my wallpaper," Siraj said, showing his phone with a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating a goal and the word ‘Believe’ written across it.

"I knew I could do it," Siraj said about his five-wicket haul, which included three wickets in one hour on the final day to turn the match in India’s favour. "I always say, be honest in your game and believe you can do it. Belief is very important for a professional player, nothing is possible without it."

When he was pushing himself with an 80-over-old Dukes ball, troubling the English batters, Ravindra Jadeja gave him some emotional motivation. "Jaddu bhai said, think about your late father and the hardships he faced. Win this for him," Siraj recalled at the presentation.

SIRAJ SHOWING THE WALL-PAPER ON PHONE - CR 7, RONALDO...!!! 💥 pic.twitter.com/paClFlFHxT

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 4, 2025

A Match-Winning Performance

After bowling 185.3 overs and taking 23 wickets in the series — often without Jasprit Bumrah by his side — Siraj has built his own legacy. "My body is fine… I don’t care if it’s my sixth over or my ninth. I don’t bowl for myself, I bowl for my country," he said. "I have worked hard with good intentions and never wish bad for anyone. When you are one of 11 players selected from 1.4 billion people, it’s a big thing. I always think about how I can perform my best for my country."

Siraj finished with figures of 5 for 104 in 30.1 overs and a match haul of nine wickets, consistently troubling the English batters throughout the game.