New Delhi: After India’s nail-biting six-run victory over England in the final Test at The Oval, head coach Gautam Gambhir hailed the team’s collective brilliance and resilience, refusing to single out individual players for praise. The win helped India level the five-match Test series 2-2, marking a significant comeback after two consecutive series losses to New Zealand and Australia.
Gambhir, who is leading India through a transitional phase with a younger squad, expressed immense pride in the team’s performance. Under the leadership of Shubman Gill and his own coaching guidance, India showed grit and determination to bounce back in the traditional format of the game.
“The boys deserve every bit of this result. It’s very difficult for me to name just one player, because every single one of them gave it their all,” said Gambhir, upon returning to Delhi. He emphasized that the effort across the squad was commendable, pointing out that the team has shown exceptional character over the past two months.
Among the standout performances, pacer Mohammed Siraj emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the series with 23 wickets, including nine crucial scalps in the final Test. While acknowledging Siraj’s brilliance, Gambhir reiterated his belief that the victory was a result of team effort. “Siraj has been outstanding, but so have others — Shubman, the bowling unit, the fielders — everyone contributed to this hard-fought draw,” he added.
Speaking about captain Shubman Gill, Gambhir was full of praise for the youngster’s leadership. “Shubman has done a fabulous job, and I’m confident he will continue to contribute positively to Indian cricket,” he said.
The series was one of the most competitive in recent memory, with each of the five Tests going down to the wire. Both India and England took turns dominating sessions, but the final match delivered a particularly dramatic finish, with India clinching victory by just six runs — a testament to the team’s fighting spirit.
As India moves ahead under a new generation of players, this series draw could be seen as a strong foundation for the team’s future in red-ball cricket.
