India’s six-run win over England in the fifth and final Test at The Oval came with a dramatic behind-the-scenes twist. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill reportedly ignored a direct warning from the ICC match referee about a possible World Test Championship (WTC) points deduction for a slow over rate—choosing instead to chase victory at any cost.
Final Day on a Knife’s Edge
The last day began with the match finely balanced. England needed only 35 runs with four wickets left, while India had to claim those remaining wickets to level the series 2-2. The tension was high not only on the pitch but also in the dressing room.
According to Dainik Jagran, ICC match referee Jeff Crowe informed the Indian team before play that they were six overs behind the required rate. If India failed to finish on time, they would lose four WTC points—critical in the first series of the new cycle after missing last year’s final.
The Dressing Room Debate
Faced with the warning, Gill, Gambhir, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak, and others discussed changing tactics. One idea was to bring on spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to speed up overs. But there was a problem—England’s batters Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton were well set, and spin could allow them to finish the chase quickly.
That’s when Gambhir made his position clear, “I don’t care about the over rate. If we lose four points, so be it. We are playing to win.”
Gill agreed, and the plan was set—fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj would keep attacking from both ends, no matter the time penalty.
Fast Bowlers Deliver the Win
The gamble worked. Even though the new ball was due in 22 deliveries, Siraj and Krishna continued with the old ball, keeping pressure on. Siraj removed Smith and Overton in quick succession, bringing India within touching distance.
The tension spiked when Gus Atkinson hit a six after a misjudgment by Akash Deep, and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel missed a run-out chance. But Siraj struck again, dismissing Atkinson to seal one of India’s most thrilling Test wins.
Points and Standings
India’s aggressive approach not only squared the series but also earned them 28 WTC points. Crucially, the win meant they avoided any penalty despite the slow over rate, while England were docked two points for their own delay. India now sit third in the WTC table, behind Australia and Sri Lanka.
The victory also reinforced Gambhir’s uncompromising, results-first coaching style—a mindset that, in this case, brought both glory and crucial championship points.
