The India vs England Test series finale at The Oval wasn’t just a nail-biter on the field — it had drama off it too. Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik revealed that England head coach Brendon McCullum almost changed his Player of the Series pick at the last minute, switching from Shubman Gill to Mohammed Siraj after India’s thrilling six-run win to level the series 2-2.
“Had the match ended on Day 4, Gill was the clear choice,” Karthik told Cricbuzz. Gill had amassed 754 runs in the series. But on Day 5, Siraj ripped through England’s lower order with a fiery spell, taking 5 for 69 to seal India’s comeback win — prompting McCullum to reconsider.
McCullum later praised Siraj’s “spirit and energy” in his Sky Sports interview, calling his spell “series-changing.” In England, opposition coaches pick two Player of the Series winners — McCullum initially voted for Gill, while India coach Gautam Gambhir chose Harry Brook.
Karthik lauded Siraj for stepping up in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence: “When given the ball, he ran in every time with his heart out… he’s shown what it takes to win.”
