The Oval bore witness to a pulsating climax on Monday morning — a fitting conclusion to the rollercoaster series that was the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. In a gripping hour of high-stakes cricket, India and England exchanged blows until the final moment of a contest that neither side truly deserved to lose.
You could argue India earned their win, for the grit they showed in Manchester to keep the series alive. Or that England were deserving, for the sheer courage of Chris Woakes, who strode to the crease with a dislocated shoulder in a last-ditch effort. But sport rarely bows to fairness. There could only be one winner, and this time, it was India.
Mohammed Siraj rose above all, delivering a stunning five-wicket performance on the final day — three of those in the decisive hour. His spirited effort under pressure crowned him India’s undeniable hero. It was Siraj, fittingly, who delivered the knockout blow — a blistering yorker to seal the deal.
England, chasing 374, fell heartbreakingly short by just six runs, bowled out for 367. India thus squared the series 2–2 and retained the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
As play resumed Monday morning, England needed 34 runs with four wickets in hand — effectively three, as Woakes, battling injury, was expected to bat left-handed if needed. It was a conclusion emblematic of a series that tested both teams’ resolve and resilience.
The fifth-day pitch had been unpredictable, and England tried to neutralize that threat with the heavy roller. But for the first time all series, the overhead conditions — overcast and moody — offered India a slight edge. The ball began to seam and swing just enough to nullify the roller’s work.
This final chapter of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy delivered everything it promised: drama, unpredictability, and moments of brilliance that defied the script.
Yet, India’s charge didn’t start ideally. Prasidh Krishna was greeted with back-to-back boundaries — the first, a pulled short ball from Jamie Overton that raced to mid-wicket; the second, a lucky inside edge that missed the stumps and slipped past the keeper. Krishna quickly corrected his line and length, but Overton’s luck gave England hope.
That hope, though, would fade. Under grey skies and immense pressure, India clawed their way back through discipline, grit, and one man’s relentless fire. Siraj’s final spell wasn’t just match-winning — it was series-defining.
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