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ENGvIND, 5th Test: NEVER EVER WRITE INDIA OFF - WHAT. A. COMEBACK!!

By Mumbai Indians

India have pulled off a jaw-dropping heist at The Oval to level the five-match series 2-2—marking one of the greatest red-ball comebacks in recent memory!

Just when it looked like Joe Root and Harry Brook’s 195-run stand had snatched the match away from us, the Indian pace unit dug deep, real deep. 💪

Mohd. Siraj & Prasidh Krishna turned the tide with an inspired burst that saw England collapse on the final day—falling 6 runs short in a dramatic finish.

That’s Test cricket at its absolute best. 🎬

Here’s how the epic unfolded over five unforgettable days in London... 👇

DAY 1 | India tackles early challenges

On an overcast opening day, Team India weathered the pace-friendly conditions to put up a 200+ score overnight. A couple of rain interruptions meant only 64 overs could be completed.

Karun Nair was the pick among the batters, who remained unbeaten on 52, his first half-century since his return to international cricket! 👏

📝 Stumps, Day 1: IND - 204/6 (64 overs)

DAY 2 | Perfect set-up for fast bowlers

India's tail was quickly cleaned up in the first half-hour itself as the scorecard read 224/10.

Thereafter, English openers came out with an attacking intent, racing to 92 within 13 overs before the fall of the first wicket.

However, the Indian bowlers pulled things back to bowl England out for 247, conceding a small lead in the process. Prasidh-Siraj bagged four wickets each to put a halt to Bazball! 👌

The proceedings were cut short due to bad light towards the end. YBJ's 51* off 49 set things up interestingly for the following Day 3.

📝 Stumps, Day 2: IND - 75/2 (18 overs) lead by 52 runs.

DAY 3 | NIGHT-mare Akash bats DEEP & Yashasvi’s ton

The nightwatchman on the previous day, Akash Deep, seemed to have enjoyed his time in the middle, playing some classsyyyyy strokes to score his first Test fifty, much to the delight of the Indian dressing room. 🤩

Yashasvi Jaiswal (118) then completed yet another century against England as the momentum swung India’s way. Jaddu-Washi pair, the saviour of the fourth Test, recorded 53 runs each to stretch the team’s lead to 373 runs.

Siraj, who became the leading wicket-taker of the series earlier this match, got the better of Zak Crawley on the penultimate ball of the day, thanks to a peach of a delivery to disturb the stumps! 🎯

📝 Stumps, Day 3: ENG - 50/1 (13.5 overs) need 324 runs to win.

DAY 4 | England on the verge of a win

The day started on a positive note for the Shubman Gill-led side as Prasidh Krishna and Mohd. Siraj dismissed Ben Duckett (54) and Ollie Pope (27), respectively, before Lunch.

Nonetheless, it was all about Joe Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) for the rest of the chase, who never looked in any trouble en route to their respective centuries, helping their side go one step closer to the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy.

…Not before a final flourish from our pacers in the third session, who made us B.E.L.I.E.V.E. right until the end.

DAY 5 | We only believe in Siraj bhai 😤

Back on Day 5! 𝘼𝙂𝘼𝙄𝙉!! For the fifth time in as many Tests! 🤯 When was the last time a series kept you this hooked?

The equation - 35 runs, 4 wickets, guaranteed another thrilling finish!

The day delivered everything it promised…. A nail-biter. A rollercoaster. A finish that left us breathless. And when it came down to belief, we only believed in Siraj bhai. 🔥

With just 35 runs to defend and 4 wickets to take, it was Siraj who lit up The Oval. Back-to-back strikes in his opening two overs—Smith caught behind by Jurel, and Overton trapped LBW by the barest of margins, tilting the script in India’s favour.

Then came Prasidh Krishna, steaming in and nailing a 141-kph toe-crushing yorker to clean up Josh Tongue.

But the final act belonged to the man of the moment. Siuuurajjj! One last yorker, one last roar, one last wicket… and India pulled off a famous 6-run win in an all-time classic.

Test cricket, you beautiful, maddening thing. 💙

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Brief scores: India 224/10 (Karun Nair 57, Gus Atkinson 5/33) and 396/10 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 118, Josh Tongue 5/125) beat England 247/10 (Zak Crawley 64, Prasidh Krishna 4/62) and 367/10 (Harry Brook 111, Mohammed Siraj 5/104 ) by 6 runs.