Introduction
In one of the most dramatic and closely contested finishes in modern Test cricket, India clinched a sensational 6-run victory over England in the 5th Test of the 2025 series at The Oval, London. With both teams evenly poised after four matches, this Test served as the decider. The five-day thriller had everything a cricket fan could ask for — top-class batting, aggressive fast bowling, tactical shifts, DRS drama, and a result that came down to the final overs.
Toss and Conditions
England captain Ollie Pope won the toss and chose to field first, taking advantage of the cloudy London morning. The surface offered swing and seam early, while also promising to become better for batting as the game progressed.
India’s 1st Innings: Atkinson’s Five-For Restricts India to 224
India’s first innings never really took off due to England’s brilliant pace bowling, especially from Gus Atkinson, who finished with a stunning 5/33.
Key Batting Highlights:
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Karun Nair stood tall with a gritty 57 (109), stabilizing the middle order.
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Sai Sudharsan contributed a patient 38 (108).
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Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (2) and KL Rahul (14) failed to make an impact.
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Extras played a notable role: 38 runs came through byes, leg byes, wides, and no-balls.
Fall of Wickets:
India collapsed from 83/3 to 224 all out in 69.4 overs, with the last 5 wickets falling for just 71 runs.
England’s 1st Innings: Siraj and Prasidh Strike Back
England responded with a rapid-fire start. Zak Crawley (64 off 57) and Ben Duckett (43 off 38) attacked from ball one. But India’s pace battery — Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna — brought them back into the game.
Key Bowling Performances:
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Mohammed Siraj: 4/86 in 16.2 overs – extracted reverse swing and broke partnerships.
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Prasidh Krishna: 4/62 – crucial breakthroughs through the middle.
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Akash Deep: 1 wicket but maintained pressure.
England was all out for 247 in just 51.2 overs, taking a slim lead of 23 runs. Harry Brook’s 53 (64) gave England a vital edge heading into the second innings.
India’s 2nd Innings: Jaiswal’s Century Sets a Massive Target
India’s second innings saw a monumental turnaround. Yashasvi Jaiswal played one of the innings of his career, scoring 118 off 164 balls, anchoring India’s resurgence.
Major Contributions:
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Akash Deep: Surprised everyone with a crucial 66 (94).
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Ravindra Jadeja (53) and Washington Sundar (53 off 46) provided explosive lower-order runs.
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Dhruv Jurel: Added 34 valuable runs under pressure.
India posted 396 all out, with Josh Tongue taking a fifer (5/125). India set England a daunting target of 374 — a tough chase even under ideal conditions.
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England’s 2nd Innings: Root and Brook Threaten to Steal the Match
England’s chase of 374 began with early wickets. Siraj removed Zak Crawley early, and Prasidh dismissed Duckett (54) and Joe Root (105) later in a clutch moment.
The Turning Point:
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Harry Brook was at his brilliant best, scoring a stunning 111 off 98 balls, keeping England in the hunt.
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Root and Brook added a 195-run partnership, which threatened to take the match away from India.
But once Brook fell at 301 and Root was dismissed at 337, the lower-order could not hold on.
India’s Bowling Brilliance on Day 5
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Mohammed Siraj bowled a masterclass in the final session, finishing with 5/104 in 30.1 overs.
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Prasidh Krishna ended with 4/126, dismissing Josh Tongue to bring India to the doorstep of victory.
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The tail offered resistance, especially from Gus Atkinson (17), but Siraj’s delivery castled him to end the match at 367, just 6 runs short.
Scorecard Summary
India Innings:
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1st Innings: 224 all out (Karun Nair 57; Atkinson 5/33)
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2nd Innings: 396 all out (Jaiswal 118, Sundar 53; Tongue 5/125)
England Innings:
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1st Innings: 247 all out (Crawley 64, Brook 53; Siraj 4/86)
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2nd Innings: 367 all out (Root 105, Brook 111; Siraj 5/104, Prasidh 4/126)
Final Result:
India won by 6 runs
Player of the Match:
Mohammed Siraj – 9 wickets in the match and the final breakthrough.
Player of the Series:
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Harry Brook (England): Consistent scoring throughout the series, including a valiant century in the final Test.
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Shubman Gill (India): Steady leadership and contributions with the bat.
Key Takeaways:
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India’s lower-order revival (Akash Deep, Sundar, Jadeja) turned the match.
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Siraj’s consistency and aggression proved match-winning.
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England’s middle-order fought hard but lacked tail-end resistance.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 118 laid the platform for India’s victory.
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DRS drama and missed reviews added to the tension on Day 5.
Series Outcome:
Though the match result went to India, the official series result was declared as 2-2, likely due to a previous tied or washed-out match (based on series listing). Nonetheless, India claimed moral supremacy with a win in the decider.
Match Officials:
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Umpires: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)
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TV Umpire: Rod Tucker (Australia)
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Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand)
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Reserve Umpire: Russell Warren (England)
Conclusion
The 5th Test between India and England at The Oval in 2025 will be remembered as a classic. With high-quality performances from both sides, India’s fighting spirit stood out. In what was effectively the decider, Mohammed Siraj’s lethal bowling, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s top-order brilliance, and the crucial knocks from the lower order delivered India a win for the ages.
This Test served as a celebration of everything that makes cricket great: grit, drama, and glory.
