India pacer Mohammed Siraj was seen applauding on-field umpire Ahsan Raza on Day 4 of the fifth Test against England at The Oval. The gesture came after Raza’s not-out decision during an LBW appeal was confirmed by ball-tracking technology. The incident took place in the 73rd over, bowled by Prasidh Krishna.
Joe Root attempted to play a shot towards mid-on but was struck on the back leg around middle and leg stump while remaining on the crease. With limited runs to defend, Shubman Gill opted for a review. Although the impact was in line, ball-tracking showed the delivery missing the stumps, and the original decision stood.
Siraj acknowledged the accuracy of the call with a sporting clap toward the umpire. You can watch the video here:
Siraj clapping for the very good decision of the Umpire. 👏 pic.twitter.com/FHU1y3v3pI
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 3, 2025
Despite featuring in all five Tests of the series and bowling over 170 overs, Mohammed Siraj remained energetic and upbeat. His enthusiasm was particularly evident after the tea break, when the ball began to offer significant movement. The 31-year-old also played a key role by dismissing two important batters — Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley.
India In Pursuit Of Tough Target On Final Day Of Fifth Test At The Oval
Shubman Gill and his team have managed to keep themselves in the game, giving India a slim chance of pulling off a dramatic win against England on Day 5 at The Oval. Earlier, hopes of a victory had nearly faded after Harry Brook launched a composed counterattack, rescuing England from a precarious 106/3 in their pursuit of 374.
Brook joined forces with Joe Root to build a massive 195-run stand, steering their side back into a dominant position. Both Yorkshiremen notched up centuries before being dismissed. At the tea break, England were the clear favourites, needing just 57 more runs to secure a famous win.
However, the situation shifted again when Jacob Bethell and Root fell in quick succession, reducing England to 339/6. With the ball starting to move around considerably, the pressure returned. But before India could press further, rain forced an early end to the day’s play.
If the hosts manage to score the remaining 35 runs on Monday, it will mark the highest successful run-chase ever recorded at The Oval in Test cricket.
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