Mohammed Siraj, whose name of Arabic origin means “lamp” or “light”, did just that—he illuminated not only the final day of the fifth Test against England but the entire five-match series. The lion-hearted 31-year-old right-arm pacer claimed nine for 190 at The Oval, London, earning the Player of the Match award while setting a host of records. What stood out most was his tireless spirit—galloping in with intent, never once complaining.
Thanks to Siraj’s brilliance, complemented by Prasidh Krishna’s eight-wicket haul and key contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (118 in the second innings), Karun Nair (57 in the first), nightwatchman Akash Deep (66), Ravindra Jadeja (53), and Washington Sundar (53), India pulled off their narrowest-ever Test win—by six runs—to level the series 2–2 and share the first series played for the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Siraj ended the series as the top wicket-taker on either side with 23 wickets, including two five-fors and a four-wicket burst. Remarkably, he was the only Indian fast bowler to feature in all five Tests—alongside England’s Chris Woakes—showcasing endurance and commitment throughout.
“Yes, definitely, he’s a Captain’s dream,” said Captain Shubman Gill, who was named Player of the Series. “Coming in five Test matches, every ball, every spell that he bowled, [he] gave his all out; and, every captain, every team wants a player like him. We are very fortunate to have him in our team.”
Greg Chappell, former India coach, praised Siraj’s character and resilience on ESPNcricinfo, writing: “Siraj’s story is one of resilience—physical, mental, and emotional. Here’s a man who has carried grief publicly, who wears his emotions on his sleeve, and who channels all of it into his cricket. He bowled like a man possessed.”
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Siraj, a man of few words, summed up his attitude simply: “I only know how to give my 100% all the time. [When] you play for the country, you give everything. I don’t think too much [whether] you bowl the sixth over or you bowl your ninth over. I don’t care. I believe you bowl every ball for your country, not for yourself.”
Emerging from Bumrah’s shadow
This series marked a coming-of-age moment for Siraj and for India’s pace attack, which finally stepped out of the shadow of Jasprit Bumrah. India’s victories in the second and fifth Tests—both without Bumrah—coincided with defeats in the first and third, when he played. Notably, the second Test win at Edgbaston was India’s first-ever at the venue.
Over the series, Siraj bowled 1,113 deliveries. With a strike rate of 48.3, he claimed 23 wickets—making it the best strike rate ever for an Indian pacer in an overseas series where over 1,000 balls were bowled.
India could well have sealed the series but for a narrow 22-run loss in the third Test at Lord’s. Chasing 193, Jadeja’s unbeaten 61 kept hopes alive, while Siraj stood firm for over an hour. The pair seemed on course for a miraculous win until Siraj, while defending a Shoaib Bashir delivery, watched the ball roll back onto the stumps—ending India’s valiant resistance.
Gill delivers as Captain and batter
Shubman Gill’s appointment as Test Captain, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement, raised eyebrows—especially with seasoned players like Jadeja and KL Rahul in the squad. But Gill, who had led Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, silenced all doubts early.
He began the series with a dogged 147 in the first Test. In the second Test, he struck centuries in both innings, establishing that his initial hundred was no fluke. Then came his fourth century of the series in the fourth Test at Manchester, helping India save the match after conceding a 311-run lead. Centuries from Jadeja and Sundar, and Rahul’s five-hour 90, further ensured the draw.
Gill’s turnaround was particularly striking after a poor series in Australia, where he had scored just 93 runs across three Tests while batting at No.3. Despite that, the selectors named him captain after Rohit’s dramatic retirement. For the England tour, Gill moved to No.4—a position he had never occupied in 32 previous Tests.
The switch worked wonders. He amassed 754 runs in nine innings at an average of 75.40—the highest tally on either side. Joe Root followed with 537 runs, then Rahul (532) and Jadeja (516). Gill’s outstanding run—and composed leadership—earned him the Player of the Series award.
Jadeja’s quiet dominance
Ravindra Jadeja was India’s silent powerhouse throughout the series. He scored 516 runs at an average of 86.00, including a century and five fifties—all while batting at No.6 and No.7. He became only the sixth player in history to score over 500 runs in a series from those positions.
Conditions meant he had limited opportunities to showcase his left-arm spin, but his steady presence with the bat was crucial in almost every innings.
A dependable opening duo
KL Rahul also had a stellar run, scoring 532 runs at 53.20 with two centuries and two fifties. Alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, he provided India with solid starts. The pair’s chemistry at the top could well be the foundation for India’s future Test campaigns.
Pant’s courageous effort
Vice-Captain Rishabh Pant was in the form of his life until an injury struck. Attempting a reverse sweep off Woakes in the fourth Test, Pant fractured his right foot. He returned after treatment to complete his third fifty of the series. In just seven innings, he had scored 479 runs at an average of 68.42, including two centuries and three fifties.
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Nair’s quiet impact
Returning to Test cricket after eight years, Karun Nair didn’t set the stage alight but played a crucial role in India’s win at The Oval. His 57 in the first innings was India’s top score and gave the team a platform. He also impressed with his sharp catching.
A series for the record books
Spanning all 25 scheduled days, the series was a feast of numbers: 6,736 runs were scored across 1,860.4 overs, and 41 catches were dropped.
India’s batters averaged 39.77 per innings, while England averaged 37.57. Although England claimed more wickets (88 at 41.84) than India (84 at 38.38), it was Gill’s side that emerged victorious. Of India’s 84 wickets, 70 were taken by pacers. The series saw 14 totals of 350-plus runs—a testament to batting dominance.
But ultimately, the defining image of this series was that of Mohammed Siraj charging in, day after day, ball after ball—with heart, fire, and purpose.
