New-look India shock England at the Oval

NEW DELHI: India is buzzing, and with good reason. Under a sky as grey as the stakes were high, Shubman Gill’s fresh-faced squad pulled off a heart-stopping six-run win at the Oval on Monday, drawing the series 2-2 and sending a loud, defiant message: the new generation has arrived.

It was India’s first Test series since the twin exits of modern legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, a transition that left gaping holes and heavy doubts. Add to that the absence of pace wizard Mohammed Shami and a restricted Jasprit Bumrah, and it looked like Gill had inherited a ship sailing into stormy waters.

Siraj brilliance powers India beat England, draw series

But instead, his men turned those choppy tides into something spectacular. With backs to the wall and odds stacked high, India clinched wins at Edgbaston and now the Oval, the latter being a heist for the ages.

The final day was pure theatre. England needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand. But under gloomy skies at cricket’s oldest battleground, Mohammed Siraj ripped through the hosts with the fire of a man possessed. Three wickets, a hushed Oval, and a headline-grabbing series-saver.

“Series 2–2, Performance 10/10! SUPERMEN from INDIA! What a win,” gushed Sachin Tendulkar on X, summing up a nation’s joy.

The Hindustan Times called it “a historic heist,” praising the young squad’s audacity. The Indian Express declared, “Miracles Do Happen.” The Hindu, meanwhile, beamed: “Mission Accomplished.”

Across newsrooms, cricket circles, and social media timelines, the verdict was unanimous: Gill’s brigade showed steel, skill, and serious heart.

Twenty-five days and five brutal Tests with one unforgettable finale. In a summer where many expected rebuilding pains, India found its next spine, and maybe, just maybe, its next golden era.