India beats England by six runs at The Oval to level Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2

London: India have pulled off a dramatic Test victory by the slimmest of margins, toppling England by just six runs on a pulsating final day at The Oval, and with it, levelling the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2.

Chasing a stiff 374 for victory, England began the day needing only 35 runs with four wickets in hand and all the momentum. But the Indian bowlers, led by a fiery Mohammed Siraj, delivered a final act brimming with nerve and skill. Siraj's double-strike in the early overs, removing both Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton, threw open the contest. England, under flickering floodlights and mounting pressure, suffered further as Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep probed with sustained pace and guile. The able fielding and tactical bowling plans under captain Shubman Gill’s leadership kept England on the back foot throughout.

In a critical moment earlier, Siraj missed a catch off Harry Brook after overstepping the boundary line while trying to complete a catch near the boundary, allowing Brook to continue and eventually score a vital century. This misstep momentarily swung pressure back in England’s favour but ultimately was overshadowed by Siraj’s resilience and wicket-taking ability in the final moments.

With injured Chris Woakes bravely padding up and the required runs dwindling into single digits, Gus Atkinson became the final wicket to fall, bowled neck-and-crop by Siraj, sparking wild celebrations among the Indian players and their supporters around the world. The Oval erupted as India’s dramatic resurgence in the last two sessions turned the match, seemingly destined for England, on its head.

This victory marked one of the closest finishes in Test cricket in recent memory. Siraj finished with a brilliant five-wicket haul in the second innings, taking his tally to 23 wickets in the series, making him the highest wicket-taker of the tour. India’s win was a testament to their precision, tenacity, and a spectacular team effort that kept their hopes alive throughout the series.