Mohammed Siraj’s 5-Wicket Masterclass Seals Historic 6-Run Win at The Oval | India vs England 2025
—Siraj’s raw, emotional words after India’s narrowest Test win perfectly captured the storm he had just weathered at The Oval.
On August 4, 2025, India pulled off a heart-stopping 6-run victory over England in the 5th Test at The Oval, drawing the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series 2-2. At the heart of this stunning result was Mohammed Siraj, whose scorching 5/104 tore through England’s lower order and turned what looked like a sure-shot English win into one of India’s greatest away victories.
This wasn't just a win—it was a statement. A message that Siraj, once seen as a support act to Bumrah and Shami, is now India's undisputed pace leader in crunch moments.
⚡ When England Were in Control…
Chasing 374 in the final innings, England had been in command for most of Day 5. A century from Harry Brook (111) and a sublime Joe Root (105) had taken the hosts to 339/6, needing just 35 runs with four wickets in hand.
The pitch had flattened. The ball had gone soft. The tension in the Indian camp was visible. Fans braced for heartbreak.
Enter Mohammed Siraj.
🔥 Siraj’s Final Spell: A Masterclass in Pressure Bowling
What followed was sheer poetry in motion, as Siraj summoned his inner fire to deliver one of the greatest closing spells in modern Test history.
Ball-by-ball breakdown of Siraj’s match-winning spell:
- 77.3: outswinger. Edge and taken by jurel. England 347/7.
- 79.5: inswinger. First setup with outswinger and then a quick inswinger does work for india 354/8.
- 82.6: Perfect yorker. This time prasidh krishna Deliverd a beauty. 357/9.
- 85.1: First ball of the over. Clean bolwed Atkinson with a sharp in-swinger yorker . Game over.
In under 30 minutes, Siraj broke England’s back. His final figures—5/104—may read like just another five-wicket haul on paper. But the timing, context, and pressure elevate it to legendary status.
📈 Stat Spotlight: India’s Narrowest Test Win Ever
This 6-run win now holds the record for:
- India’s closest Test victory by runs (previous: 10-run win vs Australia, Mumbai 2004)
- Smallest margin in any India-England Test
Siraj's spell also became the first instance of a visiting bowler taking a 5-wicket haul in a fourth-innings win at The Oval in the 21st century.
👣 Siraj’s Journey: From Hyderabad Streets to Cricketing History
Born in the low-income neighbourhoods of Hyderabad, Siraj didn’t have access to turf pitches or proper gear growing up. He honed his bowling on concrete lanes using tennis balls. His father, an auto-rickshaw driver, made immense sacrifices so Siraj could chase his dream.
He entered the domestic circuit with Hyderabad in Ranji Trophy, making heads turn with his raw pace and aggression. Then came the IPL, where Royal Challengers Bangalore gave him the stage. But Siraj's moment of transformation came during India’s injury-hit tour of Australia in 2020-21.
Thrust into leadership of a young attack at The Gabba, Siraj took a five-wicket haul and led India to an iconic win. That performance laid the foundation for what we saw at The Oval.
🧠 What Makes Siraj Special?
While many bowlers rely on skill or speed, Siraj’s strength lies in mental toughness, adaptability, and unrelenting energy.
- Reverse swing specialist: Particularly lethal with the older ball.
- Aggressive mindset: Doesn’t back down from a challenge.
- Loyal workhorse: Can bowl long, intense spells with consistency.
- Big-match temperament: Delivers under pressure, a true ‘clutch’ player.
“Siraj is not just your strike bowler now; he’s your finisher too,” said commentator and former England captain Nasser Hussain during the post-match show.
🎮 Fantasy Cricket Dream: Siraj’s Vision11 Impact
For fantasy players, Siraj was pure gold.
- Points from 9 wickets across both innings
- Bonus for Player of the Match
- Economical bowling points + match-winning impact
Users on Vision11, Dream11, and My11Circle who had him as captain or vice-captain likely topped their leagues. His selection percentage shot up dramatically after his first-innings 4-fer.
📊 Engagement Tip: Share your fantasy scorecard with Siraj in your XI using #SirajFantasyMasterclass
📊 Siraj vs England – Recent Test Record
| Year | Venue | Wickets | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Lord’s | 8 (4+4) | India won |
| 2022 | Edgbaston | 2 | England won |
| 2025 | Oval | 9 (4+5) | India won |
The trend is clear: When Siraj fires, India finishes on top.
📢 Fan Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Siraj’s “Breakup ke baad bhi dukh hota hai” line went instantly viral. Memes, reels, and emotional tributes flooded X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
🔁 Trending Hashtags:
- #SirajOnFire
- #OvalTest2025
- #IndiaVsEngland
- #BreakupQuoteKing
- #SirajMagic
Even Virat Kohli, watching from the sidelines, posted:
“Siraj, meri jaan! Warrior stuff. 🔥🇮🇳”
🗳️ Fan Poll: Is Siraj India’s Most Clutch Test Bowler?
Let’s hear it from you:
Who is India’s most reliable Test bowler in clutch situations?
🟢 Mohammed Siraj
🔵 Jasprit Bumrah
🔴 Ravindra Jadeja
Cast your vote in the comments
🎙️ What the Experts Said
Sunil Gavaskar:
“This was one of the best spells I’ve seen from an Indian pacer in England. Better than Kapil at Lord’s ‘82 in terms of timing and context.”
Michael Vaughan:
“Siraj was unplayable. And I don’t use that word lightly. He earned every bit of that win.”
Ravi Shastri:
“There’s a fire burning in that lad. You give him the ball, and he’ll give you his soul.”
🧩 The Bigger Picture: India Draw the Series 2-2
Siraj’s heroics didn’t just win a match—they salvaged the series. After trailing 2-1, India needed a win at The Oval to draw the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. Thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s first-innings century and Siraj’s nine-wicket match haul, they pulled it off.
More than just pride, this result:
- Boosted India’s WTC standings
- Gave India their first Test win at The Oval since 2007
- Proved India’s pace battery is still potent—even without Bumrah firing
🏁 Final Word: Siraj Has Arrived as India’s Big-Match Bowler
From the dusty bylanes of Hyderabad to standing tall at The Oval with the match ball in hand, Mohammed Siraj’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. But make no mistake—this is not a one-off.
He’s now the bowler India turns to when the chips are down. The man who delivers not just breakthroughs, but moments that define matches.
As the sun set over The Oval, India celebrated a historic win. And leading them into that victory, sprinting in with the ball and a lion’s heart, was Mohammed Siraj—the new king of clutch.
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