India’s thrilling 6-run win over England in the fifth Test at The Oval has gained an intriguing twist — captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly chose to ignore the ICC match referee’s warning about a potential World Test Championship points deduction for a slow over rate, prioritising a historic triumph instead.
The contest was quite close going into the last day of the Test. India needed those last breakthroughs to level the series 2-2, while England only needed 35 runs with four wickets remaining. However, the stakes off the field also increased as did the pressure on the field.
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Before the final day of play began, match referee Jeff Crowe made it very evident to the Indian camp that they were six overs behind the acceptable rate, according to a report in Dainik Jagran. The consequences were severe: if India didn't bowl out England and make up their over-rate disadvantage, they would lose four vital World Test Championship (WTC) points.
India missed out on last year's final, thus every point was crucial in the fifth Test, which was their first series in the new WTC cycle. The warning was sufficient in that situation to call for a strategy meeting in the dressing room.
A tactical change was discussed by Gill, Gambhir, assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak, and others. According to the report, one recommendation was to increase the over rate by bringing on both spinners, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, right away.
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However, there was a clear risk involved: Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton of England were well settled in the crease and could have taken advantage of the lack of speed to quickly chase down the target.
Gambhir made a daring decision at that point. “I don't care about the over rate,” he reportedly said. “If we lose four points, so be it. We are playing to win.”
Gill supported his coach, and it was decided that Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, two fast bowlers, would keep attacking from both ends despite over-rate penalties.
It turned out to be the correct decision. Both seamers maintained pressure with the older ball even though the new ball was due in 22 deliveries. India came closer to victory when Siraj first dismissed Jamie Smith and then Overton.
Gus Atkinson's massive hit went for a six after Akash Deep misjudged the boundary, and Dhruv Jurel missed a run-out opportunity as the game neared a nerve-wracking finish.
Siraj eventually dismissed Atkinson, capping one of the most spectacular Test triumphs in recent history. India was able to square the series and earn a crucial 28 WTC points thanks to the successful fast-bowling tactics. The outcome saved India from a penalty despite the ICC's over-rate warning, but England's slow rate cost them two WTC points.
India's victory solidifies Gambhir's tough, no-compromise coaching approach and puts them third in the WTC rankings, behind Australia and Sri Lanka.
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