After the highly intense England-India Test series came to an end with India earning a thrilling victory at The Oval, resulting in a 2-2 draw in the five-match series, former England captain Michael Vaughan named India’s star pacer Mohammed Siraj as the best bowler of the series. Siraj, who earned India a thrilling win at The Oval by bowling Gus Atkinson in a close finish, ended the series with 23 wickets - the most by any bowler in the series. He was the only bowler to play all five matches and picked up two five-wicket hauls. Jasprit Bumrah, who played three Tests, ended the series with 14 wickets. Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep also shone for India, taking 14 and 13 wickets respectively.
For England, Josh Tongue was the most successful pacer, picking up 19 wickets, while Ben Stokes picked up 17 wickets in four Tests. Gus Atkinson also impressed, taking eight wickets in his only Test of the series at The Oval. Jofra Archer, making his comeback to Test cricket for the first time since February 2021, picked up nine wickets in two Tests.
While speaking on a podcast, Vaughan mentioned Siraj and India captain Shubman Gill - who scored 754 runs in 10 innings - as the standout performers of the series. Vaughan also said that India ended the series as the better side. He termed Chris Woakes’ decision to bat on the fifth day of the Oval Test as “heroic.” When asked if “England threw the series away or did India deserve a draw?” Vaughan said, “India deserved the draw throughout five games, but England threw it away on that last morning.”Vaughan also said that India ended the series as the better side. He termed Chris Woakes’ decision to bat on the fifth day of the Oval Test as “heroic.” When asked if “England threw the series away or did India deserve a draw?” Vaughan said, “India deserved the draw throughout five games, but England threw it away on that last morning.”