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McCullum Concedes India 'Deserved' Final Test Win, Acknowledges Superior Performance
"With the way India were behind on in this Test, Mohammed Siraj has the sheer heart of a lion to bowl at 90mph in his 30th over of his fifth Test match. It's an absolutely remarkable effort," McCullum said to ESPNCricinfo.
Watch| Gambhir’s Dressing Room Pep Talk After Series Draw: 'If We Keep Working Hard, We Can Dominate Test Cricket'
The result not only prevented what would have been a third consecutive Test series loss under Gambhir’s leadership but also served as a strong rebuttal to those doubting the capabilities of the newly-formed team led by Shubman Gill.
Watch| Dinesh Karthik Says Brendon McCullum 'Didn't Want Shubman Gill To Be Named Player Of the Series'
The dramatic scenes on the last day at The Oval, though, forced McCullum to reconsider his selection, shifting the limelight to Mohammed Siraj for his match-turning spell.
Gautam Gambhir, BCCI Set to 'Crack the Whip' on 'Pick and Choose' Culture: Report
Siraj's relentless bowling over five Tests not only highlighted the importance of dedication and physical fitness but also added meaning to the new Indian head coach's attempts at developing a team-first culture.
‘I Hope Workload Management Disappears from Indian Cricket Dictionary’, says Sunil Gavaskar on Siraj’s Heroics
Siraj played in all five Tests of the closely fought series, hauling 185.3 overs and picking up 23 wickets. His consistent performance was a contrast to India's top fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who played just three Tests before missing the decider at The Oval due to workload fears.
‘Asia Cup ho jaye bas…’ Quips Rashid Latif Amid Tournament Uncertainty
"It will be extremely difficult for Pakistan to compete against a solid Indian team on September 14. Asia Cup ho jaye bas," Latif said, indicating that given the unpredictability of Pakistan at the moment, he is just wishing the tournament goes by without any hassles.
5th Test: This Indian team believes in getting through the opposition with an opening, says Shubman Gill
India successfully defended a 374 target on the fifth day, dismissing England for 367 despite Joe Root and Harry Brook scoring centuries.
'Jab Mere Saath Haadsa Hua…': Mohammed Siraj Felt Guilty After Dropped Catch, Downloaded 'Believe' Wallpaper on Day 5 for Motivation
His aggressive spell on Day 5 was pivotal as India chased down the last four English wickets, with Siraj picking up three of them and reducing England's tail to splinters with relentless accuracy.
5th Test: We Put the Pressure on England and It Worked', Says Shubman Gill After Epic Six-Run Win
The clinching fifth day saw India send England's last four batsmen back for a mere 28 runs, securing one of their greatest Test wins. "Every Test we came on day four and day five never knowing who was going to win. It just shows that both the teams came with their A game and I am very happy to get over the line in this one," Gill told the post-match presentation.
'Bitterly Disappointed We Couldn’t Get Over the Line': Ben Stokes After India Beat England by 6-Run in 5th Test
India overcame England by six runs to tie the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2 in what proved to be a dramatic conclusion to the five-match series.
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