India Win Oval Thriller as Anderson and Tendulkar Skip Trophy
India clinched a nail-biting six-run win over England in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. The Oval victory allowed India to level the five-match series 2-2. However, the post-match presentation felt awkward, as both James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar were missing—despite the series being named in their honor.Fans were left surprised after such an epic battle ended without the presence of two of cricket’s greatest icons.
ECB Offers No Clarity on Anderson and Tendulkar’s Absence
Neither James Anderson nor Sachin Tendulkar showed up at the post-match ceremony. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) remained silent and did not provide any explanation.
Earlier in June, both Anderson and Tendulkar attended the official launch of the renamed series, which replaced the Pataudi Trophy. Their absence at the finale, though, caught many off guard.
Even more surprisingly, no member of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s family came forward to present the Pataudi medal. When the Pataudi Trophy debuted in 2007, the late Nawab himself handed it to Rahul Dravid—establishing a touching tradition. This time, that emotional legacy seemed missing.
Siraj’s Heroics Shine in Dramatic Final Session
Despite the awkwardness surrounding the trophy ceremony, the match itself delivered high drama. England entered Day 5 needing just 35 runs with four wickets in hand. Jamie Overton immediately added pressure by hitting two boundaries off Prasidh Krishna, bringing the target down to 27.
But Mohammed Siraj had other ideas. The fast bowler stepped up when it mattered most. He dismissed Jamie Smith early, then trapped Jamie Overton in front. After Prasidh Krishna removed Josh Tongue, Siraj returned for the final blow.
His searing yorker to clean bowl Gus Atkinson sealed the six-run victory. Siraj finished with five wickets in the second innings and emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 23 scalps.
Siraj Shares His Mindset After Victory
Speaking after the match, Siraj reflected on the game-changing moments.“I thought the match was gone. If we had dismissed Harry Brook before lunch, the fifth day wouldn’t have happened. But we fought back strongly,” he said.
He also shared how he motivated himself that morning.“When I woke up, I told myself I would change the game. I searched ‘believe’ on Google and set that image as my phone wallpaper. That belief pushed me today.”
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