- August 5, 2025
No doubt about it—Day 5 at The Oval delivered Test cricket in its purest, most thrilling form. England required only 35 runs and had four wickets remaining, but England was only thinking of losing it… India was in a position to steal it. And not just the win—records set, milestones reached, history created. Five events worthy of sharing that made this Test match historic at the moment.
Siraj’s Career-Best Match Haul – A Star is Reborn
Pressure doesn’t shatter Mohammed Siraj; it shapes him. With Bumrah unavailable, Siraj was in the spotlight and he delivered with a career-best 9/190 in a roller-coaster mix of pace, precision, and pace.
He removed key threats Root and Brook in the first innings, then truly shut the door on England with a match-defining five-for in the second. The spell from Siraj on Day 5 turned the match for India in that key moment. These were not just wickets; these were a momentum shift.
Second-Most Runs in a Test Series – Batters, Take a Bow
Test cricket is not dying. If anything, it is thriving, just ask the scoreboard. Across the five Tests, both teams racked up a massive 7187 runs—marking the second-highest run tally in any Test series. Let that sink in. Twenty-one centuries scored, and 14 innings over 300, flat decks or otherwise – that is some serious batting power.
From Jaiswal’s dreamy strokes to Ben Duckett’s relentless counters, there was a buffet of batting brilliance on display. It was the kind of series that made fans forget about T20s for a while. Pure, unfiltered, classic Test stuff.
India’s Narrowest Win Ever – Just Six Runs Between Glory and Gloom
Before this intense match, India’s closest Test victory by runs was a tight 13-run win over Australia in 2004. This time, they did one better, winning by six runs. Defending 374 on Day 5 in England isn’t easy, especially with batters like Ben Foakes and Jamie Smith at the crease.
But Siraj, along with late assistance from Prasidh Krishna, rewrote the narrative. The final margin? Just six runs. One mistimed shot, one misjudged leave, or one extra run-out would have taken it away. Gritty, nervy, and wonderful. Moments such as these make the game what it is.
Siraj Equals Bumrah – Most Wickets by an Indian in an English Series
Here’s another feather in Siraj’s cap. With 23 wickets in the series, he now shares the record for most wickets by an Indian pacer in a Test series in England—level with Jasprit Bumrah’s iconic 2021-22 run.
What makes this even sweeter is the context. Bumrah played only three matches this time. Siraj had to lead the pack across five grinding Tests, and he did so with maturity and menace. He wasn’t just filling in—he was leading from the front, with fire in his eyes and rhythm in his run-up.
England’s Joint 3rd-Lowest Defeat by Runs
This six-run loss now ranks as England’s joint-third narrowest defeat by runs in their entire Test history. The only times they’ve been edged out by fewer runs were against New Zealand (by 1 run in 2023) and Australia (by 3 runs in 1902 and 6 runs in 1885).
So yes, this one stings for the home fans. They had it, and then they didn’t. It was a collapse wrapped in heartbreak—one that will linger for a while, especially considering how well they fought back after being behind in the game for large parts.
Day 5 of the Oval Test wasn’t just the end of a series—it was a masterclass in how drama, skill, and passion can still make Test cricket the most thrilling format in the game.
