Some cricket matches just hit different, you know? They live in your head for years, like the one you’ll tell your grandkids about while waving a coffee cup for dramatic effect. The India vs England 5th Test 2025 at The Oval? Yeah, that’s one of those. India scraped home by just six runs — our narrowest-ever win in Test cricket — and I swear my heart rate didn’t return to normal for hours afterward.
You’d think by now I’d be used to the twists and turns of Test cricket, but nope. This one had everything: heroic batting from unexpected names, dropped catches that nearly gave me a heart attack, and a bowling spell so good it’ll probably end up in some cricketing folklore YouTube montage. And in the bigger picture? It was the perfect way to wrap up a five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series that ended 2-2 — fierce, unpredictable, and utterly gripping.
England’s Fast Start and India’s First Fightback
From the first ball, England came out swinging. This wasn’t just cricket; it was Bazball in full technicolor. Boundaries flying, the crowd buzzing, and for the first hour I thought, “Oh great, here comes a 500-run first innings.” Their batsmen looked like they were on a mission to end the series with fireworks, and frankly, they had the momentum from the previous game.
But that’s when our bowlers decided they weren’t having it. Mohammed Siraj was relentless — the man bowled like he had a point to prove. Every time England looked set to take the game away, Siraj or Prasidh Krishna found a way to break through. And Prasidh, still new to the big stage, was landing those heavy balls that just make batsmen uncomfortable.
England still got to 247, which on paper is fine for them, but given how they started? It felt like we’d stolen back control. Every wicket was a mini fist pump moment. I remember pacing my living room thinking, “If we can keep them under 300, we’re still in this.” And somehow, we did.
India’s Early Batting Struggles and Karun Nair’s Stand
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| Karun was among the four changes that India made, and the decision to play him at No. 5 paid off. | Photo Credit: PTI |
Then it was our turn with the bat… and yeah, not the best start. Wickets kept falling like dominos, and I could almost hear the collective groan of fans across India. You know that sinking feeling? When you’re watching and muttering, “Not again, please not again.”
Enter Karun Nair. This guy hadn’t been in the headlines for a while, but he came in with a calmness that the rest of the batting order seemed to lack that day. Fifty-odd runs might not sound like much in the scorebook, but trust me — in the moment, it felt huge. He just dug in, old-school Test batting, refusing to give his wicket away.
Washington Sundar chipped in too, and every little partnership mattered. Still, we ended on 224 — a deficit, and one that had me muttering about how costly those first-innings runs might be. It wasn’t panic stations yet, but it was definitely one of those “we can’t afford another collapse” moments.
Jaiswal’s Century and Nightwatchman Akash Deep’s Surprise Fifty
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| Yashasvi Jaiswal smashes his 6th Test hundred [AP Photo] |
The second innings? Completely different energy. Yashasvi Jaiswal — that fearless kid — played like he was born for the big stage. Every shot oozed confidence, but not reckless arrogance. You could feel he was in control. His century didn’t just put runs on the board; it shifted the mood.
And then came the surprise of the match: Akash Deep. Our nightwatchman. The guy who was supposed to just survive a few overs. Next thing you know, he’s smacking his way to a fifty! Honestly, I think half the dressing room was as shocked as we were in the stands. It wasn’t textbook, but it was gutsy and exactly what we needed.
By the time we declared with a 374-run target for England, the game felt alive again. It wasn’t an unchaseable score, but on The Oval pitch with a bit of wear? It was enough to make England sweat.
Root and Brook’s Charge and the Game’s Turning Point
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| England's Harry Brook and Joe Root. |
England’s reply was brutal at first. Joe Root and Harry Brook batted like they were having a net session. Centuries each, barely a bead of sweat on their brows. Every over felt like a hammer blow to our chances. I was muttering, “We’re cooked,” more than once.
The worst moment? Siraj dropping Brook and then stepping on the rope to turn it into a six. I might’ve shouted some words I won’t repeat here. But cricket’s funny. Just when you think it’s over, the door creaks open. Late on Day 4, Prasidh got Root, and suddenly wickets started tumbling. The Oval crowd went a bit quieter, and my hope meter crept up from 5% to maybe 40%.
Day 5 Nerve-Fest: Siraj’s Spell and India’s Narrowest Win
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| Mohammed Siraj. |
Waking up for Day 5, I was nervous. England needed 35 runs, four wickets left. That’s nothing… unless the pitch is misbehaving and you’ve got a fired-up Siraj.
Chris Woakes walked out to bat one-handed — literally, his other arm tucked inside his sweater with a dislocated shoulder. The man’s a warrior, even if he didn’t face a ball. Gus Atkinson kept chiseling away, every run feeling like a dagger. My palms were sweaty, knees weak — okay, maybe not mom’s spaghetti, but close.
Then Siraj unleashed. Smith gone. Overton gone. Atkinson? Clean bowled by a yorker so good it could’ve knocked over a lamppost. The game was over. India had won by six runs — our narrowest victory in Test history. Siraj ended with nine wickets in the match and the Player of the Match award. I’m not ashamed to say I got a bit emotional watching him collapse in tears.
Gill’s Leadership and the Rise of India’s New Era
This was Shubman Gill’s first series as Test captain, and honestly? He nailed it. Not just tactically — though his bowling changes were spot-on in the crunch — but with the bat, too. He ended the series as our top run-scorer, leading from the front.
What really struck me was how the younger players stepped up despite big names like Bumrah and Pant being out injured. Jaiswal, Prasidh, Akash Deep… this wasn’t just a win for India, it was a coming-of-age moment for our next generation. You could feel the shift.
England’s Spirit and the Lessons from Bazball
Look, I’ve got to hand it to England. They fought hard. Woakes batting one-handed was pure bravery. Bazball made the series thrilling, but here’s the thing — on tricky pitches, all-out attack can backfire. This match might end up as a tactical cautionary tale.
Brook’s aggressive shot-making was brilliant until… well, it wasn’t. The post-match chatter had a few pundits suggesting maybe a touch more patience could’ve changed the result. Easy to say from the couch, though.
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy: A Classic Series Finale
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| India's Sachin Tendulkar and England's James Anderson pose for pictures with the new Anderson-Tendulkar trophy during a photo call at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England. ECB/Gareth Copley via PTI |
After five Tests, the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ended 2-2. That’s probably the fairest reflection of the series. Records tumbled: second-highest run aggregate in Test history, most 300+ team scores in a series matched. And beyond the stats, it was just… memorable.
This is why I love Test cricket. It’s not about instant gratification — it’s about the slow burn, the shifting tides, the moments you never see coming.
Conclusion
The 5th Test at The Oval was more than a win. It was a statement — that even with injuries, even when the odds tilt the other way, this Indian side under Shubman Gill can fight and win. Six runs might not seem like much, but when you’ve sweated through every delivery, it feels massive.
I’d love to hear — what was your heart-in-mouth moment from this game? Did you think we’d pull it off when England needed just 35? Drop your thoughts and your wildest predictions for Indian cricket’s next chapter below.
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