IND vs ENG Highlights 5th Test Match Day 5: Siraj, Prasidh seal win as India crush England by 6 runs

Mohammed Siraj opened up about his costly fielding error that handed Harry Brook an unexpected lifeline on Day 4 of the final Test against England. Despite what many called a "game-changing" mistake, Siraj revealed that he woke up the next morning with an unshakable belief in himself—and ultimately delivered the match-winning performance for India.

At The Oval, Brook and Joe Root had begun to shift the momentum in England’s favor during their chase of 374, building pressure on the Indian bowlers. Prasidh Krishna provided a breakthrough opportunity when Brook miscued a pull shot off the very first ball of the 35th over. Siraj seemed perfectly placed under the ball, completed the catch, but then stepped back and brushed the boundary rope—turning a potential wicket into a six.

The pacer buried his face in his hands in disbelief, knowing the magnitude of the mistake. Brook, who was on 19 at the time, capitalized on the reprieve and went on to hammer a blistering 111 off 98 deliveries before eventually falling to Akash Deep, with Siraj safely holding onto the catch this time.

"To be honest, I didn't think that I would take the (Brook) catch and step on the rope. It was a match-changing moment. Yes, I always believed myself that I will do it for the team," Siraj told Sky Sports after the match.

"If I had taken that (Brook) catch properly, probably we may not have had to come today. But Brook played really well," he added during the post-match presentation.

Siraj, nicknamed ‘Miyaan Magic,’ bounced back with a fiery spell that dismantled England’s batting order. Relying on his ability to bowl in the right areas, he kept faith in himself throughout. He even credited a motivational moment from earlier in the day for fueling his performance.

"To be honest, it is so amazing. From day one to here, everyone fought so hard, so we are very happy. I just wanted to make sure I hit the right areas, the wickets would fall, and anything else would be a bonus. When I woke up, I believed I could do it. I took a screenshot of something on Google that said believe because I wanted to put it out there today," Siraj said, after being named Player of the Match.

KL Rahul: Win means absolutely everything. I've played cricket for years. Won Champions Trophy, seen the team lift the world cup. Nothing compares to that. But so many questions about whether Test cricket stays or not, but both answered that question here with the way we've played. We weren't given a chance but we've fought in every game and get 2-2, might be a draw, but for Indian Test cricket, this will rank right at the top and this is where change begins. Indian Test team will win a lot many things and more series. Not having Rohit, Virat, Ashwin hit me two weeks in. Everyone was coming to me to ask about English conditions. Then it hit me I've stepped into a different role now. Gill's been phenomenal, led from the front. He's formed connections, he's done that. Tactically good, changes have gotten us wickets. He'll go on to become a good Test captain.

Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna produced sensational spells as India defeated England by 6 runs in a nail-biting Test finish. Despite centuries from Joe Root (105) and Harry Brook (111), England collapsed from a strong position, losing their last 7 wickets for just 66 runs.

Prasidh Krishna strikes as Josh Tongue is bowled for a 12-ball duck. The delivery sneaks through his defense and crashes into the stumps, giving Prasidh his fourth wicket and leaving England nine down.

Prasidh Krishna delivers a perfect back-of-a-length delivery that straightens from off stump and rises sharply. Josh Tongue, stuck on the crease, attempts a defensive shot but is beaten on the outside edge, unable to make contact.

Prasidh Krishna delivers a short ball, and Craig Overton looks far more comfortable this time. He swivels and pulls it confidently to deep square leg for a single, bringing up England’s 350 in the innings.

England added 8 runs in the over, taking their total to 347/6 with a current run rate of 4.50. Jamie Overton is batting on 8 off 12 balls with two boundaries, while Jamie Smith is at the crease with 2 runs off 17 balls. For India, Prasidh Krishna has bowled 23 overs, taking 3 wickets for 117 runs, and Mohammed Siraj has bowled 26 overs, claiming 2 wickets for 95 runs

While the heavy roller might make conditions easier for England’s batters, India is just 3.4 overs away from taking the second new ball. With only the lower middle-order and tailenders remaining, India will rely on Mohammed Siraj and the pace attack to use the fresh ball as a decisive weapon in their push for victory.

Mohammed Siraj stepped out for practice wearing a hoodie, sharing a brief chat with Jonathan Agnew and Alastair Cook. He received a warm welcome from those around as he made his way down the stairs.

As play moves into a new day, the groundsmen will use the heavy roller on the pitch at The Oval. This is expected to make the surface flatter and more compact, giving batters an advantage. With just 35 runs needed, this could turn out to be the decisive factor.

You probably know it by now, but the equation is straightforward – 35 runs, four wickets. That’s all that stands between England and India after a roller-coaster day four. From the tense cat-and-mouse battle in the opening hour to Brook’s explosive afternoon that turned the tide England’s way, and finally, a gripping last ten overs that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.