new delhi, Aug 5
Following India’s thrilling six-run win at The Oval to draw the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2, head coach Gautam Gambhir voiced his faith in the team’s long-term red-ball dominance, provided they continue to uphold strong work ethics and a unified dressing room culture.
The victory not only helped India avoid a third straight Test series defeat under Gambhir’s tenure but also served as a response to critics who had questioned the capabilities of Shubman Gill’s youthful squad, especially in the wake of Test retirements of senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Despite facing pressure in unfamiliar and testing English conditions, the new-look Indian side showed collective grit, composure and adaptability throughout the five-match series.
“The way this series has panned out 2-2 is an outstanding result, congratulations to all. So remember, we will keep getting better, we will keep working hard, we will keep improving our areas – because if we keep doing that, we can dominate Test cricket for a very long period,”
“People will come & go, but the culture of the dressing room should always be like that people want to be part of this culture, that is what we want to create. Good luck, enjoy yourself. You can take a couple of days off, and you deserve every bit of it. What you guys have achieved, you deserve every bit of it. Congratulations,” Gamb-hir said in a dressing room BTS video shared by the BCCI. Meanwhile, all-rounder Washington Sundar was awarded the Impact Player of the Series medal by Ravindra Jadeja for his consistent performances across the tour. Sundar ended the series with 284 runs, including a match-saving unbeaten 101 at Old Trafford in Manchester.
“Obviously, it is a great blessing to be playing four games on the trot in a place like England. Always wanted to do really well here. And as a team, just the way we went about, every single day was amazing. The energy we created especially from a fielding perspective, the energy we created, we were always there for each other. Thank you so much for everything,” Sundar said of his successful England tour. The time has come to recognise Siraj now: Ashwin Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged Gambhir and skipper Shubman Gill to look after Mohammed Siraj after the right-arm quick perfectly led India’s pace attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah with an impressive match haul of 9/190 in the Oval Test.
After taking four crucial wickets in the first innings, 31-year-old Siraj came back strongly with a five-wicket haul, helping India end the series with a 2-2 scoreline. Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, said Siraj has not been recognised for his efforts in the past.
and the time has come for the pacer to get all the acknowledgement he deserves.
“We failed to recognise Mohammed Siraj. The time has come to recognise him now. He once again put his hand up; he has given a compelling reason. Just look at his celebration, it seems as if he is saying, ‘This is not the trailer. This is the main picture itself’. He is saying, ‘Please consider me as a match winner’. ’ He is reminding us what a champion bowler he is. His bowling action, his technique and good work ethic are allowing him to play all five Tests in a series,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.
