Siraj, Akash Deep Shine as India Press England

In the fifth Test at The Oval, India's Mohammed Siraj took four wickets to become the series' leading wicket-taker with 18, and paid tribute to late England great Graham Thorpe while raising mental health awareness. Jasprit Bumrah was absent due to workload management, but Siraj and Prasidh Krishna restricted England to 247 runs in their first innings. Akash Deep, acting as nightwatchman, surprised England with his maiden Test fifty, showcasing India's depth and earning praise from teammates. Captain Shubman Gill continued his record-breaking run tally for an Indian captain in a Test series and was commended for his strategic leadership. The match remains finely balanced, with both teams showing resilience and tactical skill. India is pushing for a series-leveling win as the outcome remains uncertain.