Pacers lead the charge as India seal a thriller at The Oval
A short but action-packed Day 5 at The Oval saw India claim the final four wickets, sealing a dramatic win to draw the series 2-2.
Both teams entered Day 5 with victory firmly in sight - England needed just 35 runs, while India required 4 wickets. Jamie Overton looked to shift momentum early, smashing two quick boundaries to pile the pressure on India. However, Mohammed Siraj struck back in style, removing Jamie Smith to give India a much-needed breakthrough.
Siraj then set up Jamie Overton brilliantly, trapping him lbw and swinging the momentum firmly in India’s favour. Prasidh Krishna soon joined the action, delivering a searing yorker that rattled the stumps to dismiss Josh Tongue, bringing India within touching distance of a famous win.
Chris Woakes heroically walked out to bat despite battling a shoulder injury, keeping England’s hopes alive. Atkinson smashed a six against the run of play, cutting the target down to just 11 runs. Finally, Mohammed Siraj rattled the off stump of Gus Atkinson, handing India a memorable victory by the barest of margins - just 6 runs - and levelling the series 2-2 in thrilling fashion.
Earlier in the Test, late collapses from both sides prevented either team from posting a substantial total in the first innings, with England eventually taking a slender 23-run lead. A brilliant century from Yashasvi Jaiswal, along with valuable contributions from the lower order, helped India set a challenging target of 374 for England to chase.
The hosts looked in control of the pursuit with superb centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook. However, a dramatic collapse late on Day 4 saw England lose their last seven wickets for just 66 runs, ultimately handing India a thrilling victory.
The series began at Headingley with a high-scoring thriller that went down to the wire. India posted a mammoth 471 in their first innings, thanks to centuries from captain Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. England responded with a strong 465, with Ollie Pope scoring a hundred.
In the second innings, India again looked to set a big target with centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, but a late collapse saw them all out for 364. This left England with a chase of 371 on the final day, which they completed with five wickets in hand, led by a sensational 149 from Ben Duckett and recorded their second highest highest chase in Test cricket.
The series moved to Edgbaston, where India bounced back in a commanding fashion to level the series. After being put in to bat, India piled on a massive 587, with Shubman Gill scoring a brilliant 269 and Ravindra Jadeja adding 89. Debutant Akash Deep was the star with the ball, taking 10 wickets in the match as he ran through England's batting lineup twice. The hosts were bowled out for 407 and 271, falling to a heavy 336-run defeat.
The pendulum swung back in England's favour at Lord's in a low-scoring, tense affair. The first innings saw both teams post exactly 387 runs, with Joe Root scoring a hundred for England and KL Rahul doing the same for India. The game was ultimately decided in the second innings. Washington Sundar's four-wicket haul helped India restrict England to just 192, setting up a chase of 193.
However, India's batting collapsed dramatically under pressure, and despite a valiant 61 from Ravindra Jadeja, they were all out for 170. Ben Stokes was the hero for England with an exceptional all-round display, taking a five-wicket haul and scoring a crucial 33, earning him the Player of the Match award as England took a 2-1 series lead.
The fourth Test at Old Trafford was an epic of survival for India. After India were bundled out for 358, England's top-order went on a rampage, posting a mammoth 669 with centuries from Joe Root and Ben Stokes.
With a first-innings deficit of 311, India's second innings saw them in deep trouble, but a gritty stand by KL Rahul and captain Shubman Gill kept them in the game. It was followed by the resistance of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar that secured a memorable draw on the final day.