The recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ended on a thrilling note, with India and England sharing the trophy in a fiercely contested 2-2 draw. The final Test at The Oval became an instant classic, culminating in a nail-biting six-run victory for India, one of the narrowest in their Test history. Throughout the series, both the teams showcased remarkable resilience and the trophy honored two legends of the game with a fitting display of competitive spirit and unforgettable cricket.
Mohammed Siraj, the undisputed hero of the fifth and final Test, returned home to a rousing welcome in Mumbai. Fans thronged the airport to greet and take selfies with the pace sensation whose thrilling five-wicket haul played a pivotal role in India’s dramatic win. His efforts helped India defend a target of 374, which at one point looked well within England’s reach.
Here is the video in which you can see how fans are trying to get clicked with Siraj:
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England appeared to be cruising towards victory, powered by outstanding centuries from Harry Brook and Joe Root. At 301 for 3, the chase seemed all but complete. However, Brook’s impetuous stroke brought about a collapse that no one saw coming. From that point, India clawed their way back, taking seven wickets for just 66 runs to snatch a historic victory.
The game, affected by bad weather on Day 4, resumed on the final morning with England needing 35 runs and India four wickets. Jamie Overton initially calmed English nerves by hitting Prasidh Krishna for two boundaries. But Siraj struck immediately, removing Jamie Smith and later trapping Overton leg-before-wicket to swing the momentum back in India’s favor.
Prasidh Krishna then dismissed Josh Tongue and Siraj returned to finish off the match by taking out Gus Atkinson, sealing the narrowest win by runs in Indian Test cricket. His final match figures included nine wickets, earning him the Player of the Match award. His series tally of 23 wickets was the highest across both sides and notably, he was the only Indian fast bowler to feature in all the five matches.
With Jasprit Bumrah sitting out two games, Siraj shouldered the responsibility and grew into the role of India’s pace leader. His consistency and aggression were instrumental in not only this memorable victory at The Oval but also in India’s overall performance throughout the series.
