India pulled off one of their most dramatic Test wins in history, defeating England by just six runs in the 5th Test at The Oval. This victory helped India level the five-match series 2-2 during their 2025 England tour.
The final day was full of tension. India needed four more wickets to win. England were just 35 runs away from victory. The situation was so close that one good or bad spell could decide the game.
ICC Warning Before Play Began
Before the start of Day 5, India faced an added pressure. The ICC match referee, Jeff Crowe, warned the team that they could lose four points in the World Test Championship (WTC) because their over-rate was six overs behind the target.
The message was clear either India had to bowl faster to make up for the slow over-rate or take England’s remaining wickets quickly. Losing four WTC points could hurt India’s chances in the championship.
Team Meeting and Big Decision
India’s senior staff, including Gautam Gambhir, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak, and captain Shubman Gill, held a short meeting on the field.
Some members suggested using spinners from both ends. This would help complete overs faster and avoid losing points. According to reports but Gambhir firmly told the team to focus on winning the match first, rather than worrying about the over-rate penalty. His message was simple play to win, not just to save points.
Pace Attack Seals the Game
India stuck with fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj.
The decision paid off brilliantly. In under an hour, they dismissed England’s final four batsmen, ending the innings at 367 only seven runs short of the 374 required for victory.
Mohammed Siraj was the standout performer of the match. He claimed nine wickets in the match, with a crucial five coming on the final day. Prasidh Krishna gave important support with key breakthroughs under pressure.
Dramatic Moments in the Match
The game was packed with unforgettable moments. Even though his shoulder was dislocated, Chris Woakes courageously stepped up to bat. Harry Brook scored a fighting century after being given a second chance earlier in the innings. But even these efforts could not stop India’s pace attack.
Historic Win Without Senior Stars
India’s six-run win is their narrowest Test victory by runs in history. What made it even more special was that the team played without big names Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah were all missing.
The win meant India kept the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and stayed in third place on the WTC points table, behind Australia and Sri Lanka.