In the crucial final Test, Karun Nair’s gritty 57, Sai Sudharsan’s valuable 38, Akash Deep’s fighting 66 as nightwatchman, Ravindra Jadeja’s vital 53 and Washington Sundar’s 26 with the tail — all of it was pure gold
Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Akash Deep, Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan
The last day of the fifth Test — and the series — felt like a trial by fire.
The boys, who left India as promising talents, returned as men. Under pressure, they didn’t just survive, they stood tall. This was not just about runs and wickets. It was about character.
Hats off to Siraj
What stood out most was how our pacers handled the heat. In moments that test your nerves, the team that stays calm, digs deep, and absorbs pressure usually wins, or in this case, walks away with something even bigger than a win — pride. And speaking of pride—Hats off to Siraj. With Bumrah missing, Siraj didn’t just bowl — he led. He carried the attack and the pressure. This Test matured him, not just as a bowler, but also as
a leader.
Prasidh had a tough start. Maybe it was nerves, maybe he was just trying too hard. He bowled too short, banged it in, leaked runs. When he tried pitching it up, he overdid that too. But the best part is that he learned. On Day 5, under immense pressure, he adjusted, hit that good length and stayed in the fight. I remember back in the day, coaches and senior bowlers would always say, “When the ball is moving, keep it closer to the batsman, stick to that off-stump line. But when there’s no movement, you adjust by pulling your length back a little.” That’s how most legendary bowlers operated on English pitches. Kapil Dev, in particular, used the short ball not just as a weapon, but also as a setup, creating doubt, forcing the batter to come forward late, which made negotiating the moving ball even tougher.
In our formative years — the 70s and 80s — I remember reading interviews of bowlers like England’s Mike Hendrick and Australia’s Graham McKenzie. Their advice on green tops was always clear: “Don’t get carried away. Just bowl a good length. Let the pitch and the seam do the work.”
Young pacers from the subcontinent often see the grass and bounce and go all out. But the real magic lies in control. And that’s exactly what Siraj showed. His ability to bowl scrambled seam deliveries that just move enough, his upright action that helps the ball nip back, all this is high-skill stuff. He’s now developed that feel, so when the ball leaves the fingers just right, it listens. You’ve got to trust your intent and let the ball do the talking. Bowling good length is the biggest lesson from this match. That’s what troubled batters on both sides.
The quicker you adjust, the better you perform. Our bowlers figured it out just in time — on Day 5 — when it mattered most.
Root’s wicket pivotal
The English batters stepped out smartly, using attacking strokes judiciously, not recklessly. It was clever cricket. They forced our bowlers to shorten their length, which only made things easier for them. Then came the turning point — Root’s dismissal for 105. Until that moment, England was firmly in control. Sure, Brook had already gifted us a chance with a loose shot on 111. But his dismissal shifted the energy. Suddenly, the pressure flipped. We had a
foot in the door — and we weren’t going to let it close again.
England was unlucky too. Chris Woakes got injured. But luck favours the brave when one takes his opponent head on and it did. Bad light cut Day 4 short, but for us, that extra night was a gift. It offered us time to regroup, reset, and come back fresh — with four wickets to take. And boy, did they rise. Siraj, like a lion. Prasidh corrected his lines. Shubman Gill — cool as ever — kept the boys calm, even when nerves kicked in or catches went down.
Also, let’s not forget the unsung heroes. Karun Nair’s gritty 57, Sai Sudharsan’s valuable 38, Akash Deep’s fighting 66 as nightwatchman, Jadeja’s vital 53 and Washington’s 26 with the tail which was pure gold. He showed how to guide the lower order and absorb pressure while batting like a proper top-order player. I genuinely believe he has the skills and temperament to bat at No. 3 in Test cricket.
From boys to men
I’m proud because this hopeful team left India as boys, but returned as men. This series has been one of the most thrilling rides we’ve had — on and off the field. In this triumph, echoes of a thousand silent prayers — by players, by fans, by the unseen hands that shaped them. And yes — Gavaskar had messaged, saying he hoped that the Indian team would give me the perfect birthday gift. It came a day late, but was totally worth the wait.
Finally, this win is also for the Head Coach. In fact, for him, it’s much more than a win, it’s survival.
The author was part of India’s 1983 ODI World Cup-winning team
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