In one of the most breathtaking finishes in modern cricket, India clinched a miraculous six-run victory over England in the final Test at The Oval, leveling the unforgettable Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2.
The final day was pure, unadulterated sporting drama. England came into the day needing just 35 runs with four wickets in hand, looking certain to seal a 3-1 series win. But a fiery, inspired spell of bowling from Mohammed Siraj turned the match on its head, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat for the visitors.
A Finish for the Ages
Just when all hope seemed lost for India, Mohammed Siraj delivered a performance that will be talked about for years. He was the hero for his team, bowling with incredible passion and skill to take three of the final four wickets and shatter England’s hopes.
The tension in the final moments was almost unbearable. England’s Gus Atkinson fought hard to get his team over the line, but Siraj produced a perfect, stump-shattering yorker to end the match, sparking euphoric celebrations from the Indian team. The incredible scenes were made even more poignant by the bravery of England’s Chris Woakes, who walked out to bat with his arm in a sling from a dislocated shoulder in a last-ditch effort to save the game.
An Unforgettable Series Drawn 2-2
The victory was a massive achievement for a young Indian side under the new leadership of captain Shubman Gill. Leveling the series away from home against such a strong England team is a testament to their resilience. The incredible finish had the entire cricket world buzzing.
The great Sachin Tendulkar, for whom the trophy is partly named, summed it up perfectly.
“Test cricket absolute goosebumps. Series 2–2, Performance 10/10! SUPERMEN from INDIA! What a win,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
Test cricket… absolute goosebumps.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 4, 2025
Series 2–2, Performance 10/10!
SUPERMEN from INDIA! What a Win. 💙🇮🇳🏏 pic.twitter.com/ORm1EVcbRH
Even England’s injured captain, Ben Stokes, praised the quality of the contest.
“As a massive advocate for Test cricket, I can say this series has been an unbelievable advertisement for the format around the world,” Stokes said. “To all the doubters saying Test cricket is dying — this series has proved the opposite.”
Impact on ICC Test Rankings
The thrilling 2-2 draw also caused a slight shuffle in the official ICC Test team rankings. While England holds onto its No. 3 position, their rating dipped slightly. India remains at No. 4, but the victory gave them a valuable boost, closing the gap on the teams above them.
