[WATCH] ENG vs IND 2025: Morne Morkel lifts Gautam Gambhir in dressing room celebrations after Oval win
“It's going to be the ideology of this Test team, where it won't be about individual-centric, it will be about the team," Gambhir said.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir was over the moon after India pulled off one of their most dramatic Test wins on English soil, beating England by six runs at The Oval to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2. The former India opener, now the head coach of the national team, led the wild dressing room celebrations and was lifted off the ground by bowling coach Morne Morkel following the nervous finish on Day 5.
India’s six-run victory in the fifth Test was their narrowest ever in terms of runs. Coming into the final day, England needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand. A sensational spell by Mohammed Siraj, who picked three of those wickets, sealed a famous win for the visitors. Notably, this was India's first Test victory in the fifth game of an away series and also their first drawn Test series under Gambhir’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Gambhir couldn’t control his emotions once Siraj dismissed Gus Atkinson to end the match. A behind-the-scenes video shared by the BCCI saw Gambhir jump in celebration, scream in joy, and hug everyone, including Morkel, who lifted the head coach into the air. Gambhir was clutching the South African tightly, smiling and shouting. Moments later, he was seen emotionally hugging captain Shubman Gill on the field.
Watch the video below:
Kohli v Rohit v Gill comparison after first Test as captain
It's going to be the ideology of this Test team: Gambhir
The win came as a massive relief for Gambhir, who was under growing pressure after a string of disappointing results in red-ball cricket since taking over from Rahul Dravid in 2024. His record now sees him with five wins, eight losses in 15 Tests, with notable series losses against New Zealand at home and Australia away.
In a BCCI video, he also mentioned his belief in team-first ideology and congratulated the whole team, including players and support staff, for the win and levelling the series from a tough position.
“It's going to be the ideology of this Test team, where it won't be about individual-centric, it will be about the team. The way the boys have fought. I've always been a big believer that you should always get what you deserve, not what you want. And I think the guys deserved it,” said Gambhir.
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