Shubman Gill and Harry Brook Named Players of the Series — Here's Why

India pulled off an unexpected heist during the historic 2025 India tour of England, winning the fifth Test by the slimmest of margins of 6 runs and tying the series at the Oval 2-2.

After 25 days of cricket extravaganza, the 5-match test series came to a spectacular conclusion at the Oval. With four wickets remaining, the hosts needed only 35 runs to win, but England were unable to chase down the total and lost by 6 runs. They thus shared the coveted trophy with India. Right-arm seamer Mohammed Siraj's incredible five-wicket haul in the 2nd innings earned him Player of the Match.

Also Read: Siraj Takes Fifer As India Win Oval Test By 6 Runs, Levels Series 2-2

Why Both Shubman Gill and Harry Brook Were Named Player of the Series

Alongside Siraj, Shubman Gill from India and Harry Brook from England were awarded the Player of the Series for their contributions with the bat. Fans wondering why both Brook and Gill were named instead of a single recipient, as is typical, should know that this is a long-standing tradition in England. The Player of the Series award is often shared between standout performers from both sides.

For instance, during India’s 2018 tour of England, Virat Kohli and Sam Curran were jointly named Players of the Series.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: ‘He knew the importance of this series’ - Abhishek Nayar lauds KL Rahul's terrific batting

As per the usual process, the head coaches of each team select the Player of the Series from the opposing side, based on overall impact and consistency.. This time, England coach Brendon McCullum selected Indian skipper Shubman Gill, while India’s Gautam Gambhir chose Harry Brook for his performance with the bat.

It marked a remarkable turnaround for Shubman Gill, who averaged just 33 in England before this tour. Now, after scoring 754 runs in 10 innings, including 3 centuries and a double hundred at Birmingham, his average has risen to 41. Meanwhile, Harry Brook had a consistent series as well, scoring 481 runs in 10 innings with 2 centuries. He finished as England’s second-highest run-scorer in the series.

Harry Brook and Shubman Gill's Medal Worthy Stats

Also Read: Mohammed Siraj Overtakes Kapil Dev, Powers India to Historic Oval Win