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NDTV
6 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Ex-India Star's Defining Verdict After Dramatic Win At The Oval: "All Doubts..."
After India secured a series-levelling six-run win over England in the fifth Test at The Oval, former fast bowler Varun Aaron said the Shubman Gill-led side has put all doubts to rest by showcasing their true capabilities, despite being in a transition period. On the fifth day of the match at The Oval on Monday, England were bowled out for 367 in a chase of 375, with fast bowler Mohammed Siraj taking 5-104. The six-run win is also India's narrowest winning margin in their history of playing Test cricket. 'Extraordinary achievement, especially when the team is going through a transition phase. Who thought that the Indian team, going through a transition phase, would come out and perform like this? A very, very special victory to witness.' 'Siraj bowled like a dream. Unbelievable. Everything is on the line with the 80-over old Dukes ball. So much heart, so much dedication for this win. It shouldn't go unnoticed. Such an important Test victory for the Indian cricket team, especially because this was the first one under Shubman Gill.' 'There were so many doubts with Virat not being there, Rohit not being there, and Bumrah playing just three Tests. I think they have put everything, more than everything, all the doubts to rest. And this is what this Indian team is made of. They are an absolute gun team,' said Aaron on JioHotstar. Siraj, the lone fast bowler from both sides to play all five matches, ended the series as the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets at an average of 32.43. Sanjay Bangar, former India cricketer and batting coach, spoke about Siraj's match-winning effort, which will go down in the folklore of incredible Test victories. 'It's all heart, it's all passion, it's all skill. And all of that coming together with that commitment to put his body on the line for the team, no matter what. Siraj is always a guy who's going to put his hand up and do the difficult yards.' 'He doesn't always get the new ball but is happy to bowl with the older ball and happy to bowl long spells, whether it's the first or the last session, or whether the team is in deficit or looking to bowl a team out. I think you put any situation in front of him, and he puts his hand up and just wants the ball in his hand.' 'And the way he runs with that sort of energy and that sort of wicket-taking mindset- you are certainly fortunate to have a bowler of that class, ability and mindset, which can not only deliver individual performances but also unite the team and forge them to do special things,' he added. With India levelling the series at 2-2, Bangar felt winning at The Oval would give this young Indian team a big boost in terms of dealing with challenging situations. 'What this series is going to do is give great belief to the guys who are part of this unit. Siraj, for that matter, or KL Rahul or Yashasvi Jaiswal or Washington Sundar or Ravindra Jadeja, all of them at some point in the series, knew that they had to stretch their resources mentally and physically.' 'But now, having understood what they can achieve once pushed to the wall and still choosing to stand back or rise after every fall, I think this is a quality that has been the defining factor of all the members who participated in this series.' 'And going forward, I believe that this is going to stand them in good stead when they play more challenging situations, more challenging matches in the future,' he concluded.


India Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
ENG vs IND, 5th Test Day 5 Live weather updates: Will rain continue to spoil Oval finale?
Well, the Indian cricket team fans were right behind their side towards the end of Day 4 as there was more energy on the field. The Indian team coped criticism for their body language from the fans as many felt the team gave up way too easily. However, in the final few overs, the fielding was sharp, the bowling on point and the crowd buzzing. This has to be the tone from the get-go. Former pacer Varun Aaron feels that India will hold the advantage and can go on to win the Oval Test after a well-needed rest before play on Monday. 'Even a 10–15 minute extra break can do wonders for a team. It gave the players time to regroup in the dressing room, talk strategy, and recover physically. I'm sure the message in the room was clear—'We've worked too hard over the past 60 days to let this game slip.' This team has travelled all the way from India and dominated large parts of the series. A series draw is the least they deserve. A loss from this position would really hurt. But after that spirited bowling spell post-tea, I genuinely believe India are now in a position to win this match,' said Aaron. (READ) One of the intriguing things to see is the heavy roller being used ahead of the start of play on Monday. Ollie Pope will have the choice to use it on Day 5 and both Joe Root and Morne Morkel have weighed in on it. (READ) Just when we thought the England vs India series couldn't get wilder, Day 4 at the Oval cranked the tension up to 11. India had 9 wickets to grab, England needed 374 runs—and it looked like the finale was loading. Early blows from India had Duckett and Pope walking back, but then came the Brook-Root rescue act. Harry Brook (111 off 98) punished India for a dropped catch, while Joe Root's 39th Test ton set England on course for another epic chase. But just as the hosts looked to wrap it up, Prasidh Krishna crashed the party, removing Bethell and Root to keep the thriller alive. Then came the plot twist—bad light and rain halted the drama and sparked frustration all around. With 35 runs needed by England, 4 wickets by India - the Oval Finale thriller can go either way. The final day of the Oval Test is here—and so is the tension. With all four results still possible, India and England are eyeing that crucial morning session before rain starts knocking. BBC Weather says the rain might arrive around 1 PM local time, just as lunch begins. That means the morning is dry, cloudy, and tailor-made for India's pacers with the new ball. But after lunch? Things could get soggy. Accuweather predicts a 60% chance of rain post 2 PM, which means both teams have a narrow window to decide the fate of this thriller. If England want to chase or India hope to steal it, they'll need to act before the skies do. Umbrellas ready—but keep your eyes on the pitch. The Oval Test is set for a blockbuster finale—but only if the skies behave! As England eye a historic series win and India look to pull off a dramatic heist, Day 5 is walking a tightrope between cricketing glory and rain-curtailed heartbreak. With just 35 runs needed and four wickets in hand, England have the edge, but don't count out Team India just yet. Shubman Gill's men have fought tooth and nail throughout this series, and a few early wickets could flip this game on its head.


Time of India
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG 5th Test: Mohammed Siraj - The Last Man Standing
Mohammed Siraj appeals during day two of the 5th Test vs England at The Oval (Photo byfor Surrey CCC) in London: " Mohammed Siraj has one muscle that's bigger than anyone else... his heart." These were the words of Varun Aaron during commentary but these were the sentiments of everyone watching from the stands at The Oval or home. Another lion-hearted spell, another outing of honest effort and Mohammed Siraj showed why he continues to be a rare breed. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It wasn't a spell where you would stand up and applaud a delivery for sheer skill or work of art. It wasn't a spell where the seam position after release would become muse for the photographers. And, it clearly wasn't a spell where the mischief from the pitch came to his support. It was, however, another spell from the maverick playing his fifth consecutive Test, which had intent written all over it. When he hits the rhythm, like he did during that eight-over burst post Lunch, he turns into a different beast and the ball behaves differently than it had done all day, even from the same spot. That extra effort, even in the fifth Test of the series where he has already sent down over 150 overs, is not just a reflection of his skill but a testament of his character, which he wears on his sleeve. Greenstone Lobo predicts result of India vs England fifth Test | What's in the stars? Those three wickets in the second session ran through the opposition middle-order and allowed India to fight their way back into the game after a very ordinary start with the new ball. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Enjoy 100% Pure New Zealand and fly Air New Zealand Fly Air New Zealand Undo But the moment the ball lost its shine, the 31-year-old looked in far more control and kept pinging the right areas, and the effort took care of the rest. Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell didn't survive the frentic period of play. While the first two were undone by sharp inward movement and those extra yards after pitching, Bethell had no clue about the inswinging yorker which trapped him right in front. That yorker was fired in his seventh straight over of the spell but he had his tail up and the spring in the stride continued for one more over before captain Shubman Gill got him off the attack. It was another unreal effort by the bowler who has given it his all in different conditions and situations throughout the series. He has been the workhorse for the Indian team in their second consecutive five-Test series and served another reminder of why he needs to be celebrated, and appreciated even more. Siraj is one player who shouldn't be judged on just wickets, strike-rate and other numerical readings. Poll What do you think is Mohammed Siraj's greatest attribute as a bowler? Skill and technique Heart and determination Fitness and stamina Tactical awareness He puts his heart and soul every time he steps onto the field for the team, and there clearly are no half-measures. He had thanked the almighty for blessing him with good fitness but more than the blessings, it's his will, drive and energy which keeps him going. And kept him going on an overcast afternoon at The Oval. In a series where bowlers from both teams have been rotated, managed and preserved, Siraj has remained an exception who has run in hard every single time. The right-armer is a proper team man, captain's dream and opposition's nightmare as he doesn't give an inch as far as effort is concerned. There are off days, erratic spells, lack of rhythm but no dearth of intent. While others keep their biomechanics in check for these marathon outings, Siraj doesn't need to complicate. For him, it's all about putting his heart behind the ball every time he stands on top of the bowling mark. He has already done it on 932 occasions in the series, and looks ready to go all in one last time in the second essay. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!


News18
17-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Former India Pacer Varun Aaron Joins Sunrisers Hyderabad As Bowling Coach
Varun Aaron played nine Tests and as many ODIs for India between 2011 and 2015. His last competitive match was a Vijay Hazare Trophy game for Jharkhand earlier this year. Sunrisers Hyderabad appointed former India pacer Varun Aaron as their bowling coach for the 2026 IPL season on Monday. Aaron will succeed former New Zealand left-arm quick James Franklin. 'A fiery addition to our coaching staff! Welcome Varun Aaron as our new bowling coach," SRH announced on their X account. A fiery addition to our coaching staff! Welcome Varun Aaron as our new bowling coach 🔥🧡 #PlayWithFire — SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) July 14, 2025 Aaron played nine Tests and as many ODIs for India between 2011 and 2015. Aaron's last competitive match was a Vijay Hazare Trophy game for Jharkhand against Goa in Jaipur on January 5 earlier this year. However, Aaron ended his playing career after Jharkhand failed to enter the knockout stages of the domestic 50-over competition. The 35-year-old burst onto the scene as a young tearaway capable of crossing the 150 kmph mark, earning him immediate attention from the selectors. In fact, the top brass at the time wanted to invest heavily in him and another emerging fast bowler, Umesh Yadav. While Umesh went on to play more than 50 Tests, Aaron soon largely became an onlooker due to frequent injuries. Sunrisers Hyderabad's Torrid Run In IPL 2025 Sunrisers Hyderabad endured a dismal IPL 2025 campaign, plagued by inconsistency, poor execution, and a heavy dependence on a misfiring top order. Despite a promising start, including a mammoth 286-run innings in their opening game, their form dipped sharply as the season progressed. The duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma struggled to replicate their 2024 heroics, offering little firepower when it mattered most. Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Reddy also failed to provide the stability required in the middle order. The bowling department fell short as well. Injuries to key players like Adam Zampa and the off-form Mohammed Shami hurt their attack, while the spinners lacked bite on slower tracks. With tactical errors and underwhelming individual performances piling up, SRH finished sixth on the points table with 13 points in their kitty. (With PTI Inputs) view comments First Published: July 14, 2025, 17:36 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Hans India
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Former India pacer Varun Aaron joins SRH as bowling coach
Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday appointed former India pacer Varun Aaron as their bowling coach for the 2026 IPL season. Aaron will take over from former New Zealand left-arm quick James Franklin. 'A fiery addition to our coaching staff! Welcome Varun Aaron as our new bowling coach,' the SRH announced on their X account. Aaron had played nine Tests and as many ODIs for India between 2011 and 2015. Aaron's last competitive match was a Vijay Hazare Trophy game for Jharkhand against Goa at Jaipur on January 5 earlier this year. However, Aaron brought curtains down on his playing career after Jharkhand failed to enter the knockout stages of the domestic 50-over competition. The 35-year-old had burst onto the scene as a young tearawaycapable of crossing the 150 kmph mark and it earned him immediate attention from the selectors. In fact, the top brass at that time wanted to invest heavily on him and the other blooming fast bowler — Umesh Yadav. While Umesh went on to play more than 50 Tests, Aaron soon slipped largely into an onlooker courtesy frequent injuries. Post-retirement, Aaron has moved on to become a TV pundit before joining the Hyderabad outfit in his new role.