Gargi Raut at The Oval
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is heading to the final showdown at The Oval in London and India is standing at either the edge of greatness or heartbreak. The series is still open ended and poised at 2-1. It has been filled with fiery drama, cinema, moments of great character and grit. This series, one that involves a team in transition and a new captain, has settled deep into the memory of fans.
The series began with disappointment for India with a loss at Headingley. But by the time the fourth Test at Old Trafford arrived, the series had grown claws, it had already shown us every shade of Test cricket, from tense Day 5 finishes to injured players to the ‘spirit of cricket’ debacle taking a centre stage once again. There are also silent, resilient moments that have defined this series, like the calm and composed stints of KL Rahul, the grit of Washington Sundar, and the roar of applause when Rishabh Pant hobbled out to bat with a broken foot.
Only some time ago, many believed Pant would never play again. And in this series just when people thought he wouldn’t bat again for some time, he limped down the steps of the dressing room and once again discarded every assumption of what’s possible. It was madness, genius and heart. He batted in pain, grimacing, joking, fighting, defending, and when he fell, the press box, the most unemotional place in cricket, stood and clapped.
Then came the young all-rounder Washington Sundar. When he walked out to bat, many thought it was only a matter of time before the game would be done and dusted. Sundar then became a symbol of patience. Promoted up the order, under siege, he played the innings of his life. Alongside Ravindra Jadeja, he pulled India out of the wreckage with a knock that no one had ever expected.
Despite multiple heroic displays – be it Mohammed Siraj leaving it all out on the field, Akashdeep picking up 10 wickets on his debut, the skipper scoring 722 runs four Tests, Jadeja solidifying the middle order or some Jasprit Bumrah magic – there’s still so much to look forward to. Two days ahead of the final Test, off the field drama swirled. Gautam Gambhir found himself in a war of words with the head groundsman at The Oval. Photos surfaced. Questions were raised. But amidst all the noise, one thing remains clear, this series is still alive.
There is only one Test left, yet the series still hangs in the balance. But more than the silverware, India is chasing something far greater. They are chasing validation, pride and belief. From the boy who hobbled, to the man who endured, to the team that refused to fold, this has been a series of soul. There’s one final push left. And if the past four Tests have taught us anything, it’s this: Write India off at your own risk.
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Here’s something on the likely India XI for the Oval game