Match Summary
On Thursday, England won the toss at The Oval and opted to bowl first. India posted 224 runs in their first innings, with Karun Nair scoring a crucial 57. England replied with 247 runs, led by Zak Crawley’s 64, gaining a 23-run lead. India bounced back strongly in their second innings, scoring 396 runs thanks to stellar performances from Yashasvi Jaiswal (118), Akash Deep (66), Ravindra Jadeja (53), and Washington Sundar (53). England were set a target of 374.
In England’s second innings, Joe Root (110) and Harry Brook (111) helped the team reach 300/3. However, a fiery spell from Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bundled them out for 367. Siraj bowled Gus Atkinson to claim the final wicket. Injured Chris Woakes tried to bat one-handed but couldn’t take England over the line.
Historic Milestones
First-ever overseas final Test win: For the first time in history, India won the final Test of a five-match series on foreign soil. In the previous 16 such overseas series, India had lost 6 and drawn 10 deciding matches.
400-run record: This series saw nine batters (5 from India, 4 from England) score over 400 runs — a first in Test history.
7,000+ runs milestone: This is only the second Test series in history to witness over 7,000 runs scored. The previous was the 1993 Ashes, with 7,221 runs in six Tests.
Star Performers
Mohammed Siraj: With 5 wickets in the second innings and 23 wickets in the series, Siraj was named Player of the Series.
Yashasvi Jaiswal: His commanding 118 in the second innings anchored India’s turnaround.
Harry Brook & Joe Root: Both struck centuries for England, but their efforts fell short against India’s relentless bowling.
Series Outcome
India won the second and fifth Tests, England clinched the first and third, while the fourth ended in a draw. This fiercely competitive series saw momentum swing throughout, culminating in a historic overseas win for India under Siraj’s bowling brilliance