IND vs ENG 5th Test: 'He’s a captain’s dream' – Shubman Gill lauds Mohammed Siraj’s warrior spirit after Oval five-for

India's Mohammed Siraj with captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar)

India vs England Day 5: Can India do the UNTHINKABLE at The Oval? Four wickets and 2-2!

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India’s stand-in skipper Shubman Gill was full of praise for his team after they pulled off a thrilling six-run win in the fifth Test at The Oval to level the series 2-2. Reflecting on the nail-biting finale and the gripping five-match series, Gill said he was proud of how India held their nerve on the final morning."I think the way both teams played throughout the series, coming into Day 5 not knowing who would win, shows both came with their A game," Gill said. "Really happy we managed to get over the line in this one."England needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand when play resumed on Monday. But Mohammed Siraj bowled a sensational spell and finished with 5 for 88 in the second innings, supported by Prasidh Krishna , as India bowled out England for 371.Gill said captaincy was easy when bowlers were in that kind of rhythm. "They were making the ball talk. The way Siraj and Prasidh came out firing was magnificent."He also opened up about the decision to delay taking the second new ball and employing a spread-out field. "We just wanted to put them under pressure. Pressure makes teams do things they don't want to."On Siraj’s brilliance, Gill said: "He is a captain's dream. Every ball he bowled in all five Tests, he gave his heart out."Gill, who was named Player of the Series, said he had worked hard to be the best batter and was happy to achieve his goal. “You are only sorted mentally when you are sorted physically,” he added.Looking back at the tour, he summed it up simply: “We never give up.”

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