By Vinod Ram 
In a breathtaking finale at The Oval, India clinched a narrow six-run victory over England on 4 August 2025, drawing the five-Match Test series 2-2 to share the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy. Chasing 374, England looked poised for victory at 339/6, needing only 35 more runs, until Mohammed Siraj’s match-winning spell ripped through the lower order. His 5 for 104 haul under cloudy skies was the defining moment of an epic contest that will be remembered as one of Test cricket’s greatest finales (The Guardian) (The Indian Express).
#ENGvsIND #TestSeriesDraw #SirajHeroics
Siraj’s Reverse-Swing Masterclass
Siraj exploited late-day reverse swing with ruthless precision, dismissing Gus Atkinson with a toe-crushing yorker to seal the win. His ability to extract movement on a wearing pitch underlined India’s growing mastery of reverse swing bowling—a technique that has swung countless matches in their favour (The Guardian).
#ReverseSwing #CricketTactics
Ben Stokes’ Post-Match Optimism
Despite the narrow defeat, England captain Ben Stokes remained upbeat, praising his team’s “incredible fight” and highlighting the series as a “true showcase of Test cricket’s spirit.” Stokes acknowledged that missing key bowlers left the hosts short of resources when it mattered most (Reuters).
#BenStokes #EnglandCricket
Kohli’s Endorsement of Siraj
Former India skipper Virat Kohli lauded Siraj’s performance as “the embodiment of commitment under pressure,” asserting that Siraj “gives everything for the team” and “will be remembered among the great match-winners” (The Times of India).
#ViratKohli #TeamIndia
Series Impact & What’s Next
- Series Drawn 2-2: Marks India’s first Test series leveller in England since 2018, reinforcing their status as a top away-series side.
- Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy Shared: Commemorates two legends—James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar—in a landmark series.
- White-Ball Action Ahead: Attention now turns to the upcoming ODI and T20I clashes, where India’s dominant white-ball prowess (ODI head-to-head lead 61–44; T20I lead 17–12) will be put to the test (The Indian Express).
#CricketRivalry #NextUpODIs