Team India pulled off one of their most thrilling Test wins at The Oval, defeating England by just 6 runs in the final and the fifth Test of the series. The match ended with a 2-2 series draw, but what stole the spotlight and later won hearts was not just the result, but it was head coach Gambhir’s raw emotional celebration in the dressing room.
India has set England a target of 374 runs. On the fifth day, England resumed at 339/6 needing only 35 more runs to win with four wickets in hand. But Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj had other plans for the hosts. He delivered a stunning spell and picked up three of the final four wickets, dismissing the English side for 367 and sealing a dramatic win for India.
Watch: Gautam Gambhir’s unseen Emotional celebration
𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳. 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗝𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!
Raw Emotions straight after #TeamIndia‘s special win at the Kennington Oval 🔝#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/vhrfv8ditL
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 4, 2025
What followed after the final wicket was something fans had never seen before. A video shared by the BCCI on social media showed the entire Indian dressing room erupting in joy. The players, support staff, and coaches were seen on their feet, celebrating with loud cheers and hugs, but the most surprising celebration came from the head coach, Gautam Gambhir.
Known for his serious and reserved nature, Gambhir let loose in pure joy. He screamed at the top of his lungs, jumped into the arms of the bowling coach Morne Morkel, and shared an emotional hug with captain Shubman Gill. His eyes were watery and appeared teary, which reflected what the win meant to him. Later, Gambhir posted a heartfelt message on Social media: “ We’ll win some, we’ll lose some… but we’ll never surrender! Well done, boys!” His words, along with the video, quickly went viral, earning praise from the fans as well as from the former cricketer community.
This victory was crucial for Gambhir, who took over as head coach from Rahul Dravid in 2024. Under his leadership, India had only managed 5 wins in 15 Tests before this match. Losses to New Zealand at home and Australia in the away format had put pressure on his coaching role. But drawing the series against England, and especially winning the final Test in such a dramatic and exciting thriller, gave him and the team a huge morale boost.
Mohammed Siraj, who took 9 wickets in the match and 23 in the series, was declared the hero of the game. India’s win at The Oval was more than just a match result; it was a reminder of the passion, fight, and belief that live in the heart of Indian cricket.
