A stunning final-day comeback in the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has been overshadowed by ball-tampering allegations from former Pakistan pacer Shabbir Ahmed. India’s nail-biting six-run victory over England at The Oval sealed a 2–2 series draw, but Ahmed took to social media to question how the old ball continued to swing deep into the match.
Shabbir Ahmed, former Pakistan pacer, on X (formerly Twitter): “I think India used Vaseline. After 80 + over ball still shine like new. Umpire should send this ball to the lab for examination.”
I think
India used Vaseline
After 80 + over
Ball still shine like new
Umpire should send this ball to lab for examine— Shabbir Ahmed Khan (@ShabbirTestCric) August 4, 2025
The Match-Turning Spell
England appeared on course for a record chase of 374, cruising at 301/3 with Joe Root and Harry Brook in control. But Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna produced a devastating burst, taking the final seven wickets for just 66 runs to bowl the hosts out for 367.
Siraj’s mastery with the 80-over-old ball proved decisive, dismissing Jamie Smith with an out-swinger before trapping Jamie Overton lbw with a sharp in-swinger. Krishna backed him up with pace and movement, eventually rattling Josh Tongue’s stumps after a close DRS call had gone against him.
Despite being eligible to take the new ball, India stuck with the old one, exploiting its reverse swing to close out the match.
Allegations Add Controversy to Series Finale
Ahmed’s remarks have reignited debates over reverse swing and the maintenance of the ball in Test cricket. While neither the ICC nor match officials have commented, the former pacer’s claims drew attention online, echoing previous accusations from Pakistan cricket figures during major tournaments.
Notably, during the 2023 ODI World Cup, former cricketer Hasan Raza suggested India received “different balls” from the ICC, and in the 2024 T20 World Cup, ex-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq accused Arshdeep Singh of tampering — allegations that were strongly refuted at the time.
India’s Seamers Shine Despite Conditions
The Oval pitch was widely regarded as balanced throughout the match, offering assistance to both batters and bowlers. Still, the Indian pace attack’s skill in generating movement from the old ball was pivotal in securing victory.
Siraj finished the series with 23 wickets, including match figures that propelled him to 15th in the ICC Men’s Test Bowler Rankings. Krishna’s eight wickets in the decider saw him climb 25 spots to 59th.
The win not only levelled the series but also underlined India’s resilience in foreign conditions — though, thanks to Ahmed’s comments, the post-series narrative now has an unexpected layer of controversy.
