Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar believes Joe Root’s wicket late on Day 4 was the turning point in the fifth Test at the Oval. India pulled off an incredible six-run win after struggling during the 195-run partnership between Root and Harry Brook as well.

Talking about the turning point, in an interview with India Today, Gavaskar said, “It has to be when Joe Root got out. Harry Brook had already got out at that stage. But the wicket of Root because Root really has been the batter who has held this team together. The sparkling strike players like Duckett, Crawley, Brook and Jamie Smith are there but the one who has really held this team together is Joe Root.”

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“It has to be when Joe Root got out. Harry Brook had already got out at that stage. But the wicket of Root because Root really has been the batter who has held this team together. The sparkling strike players like Duckett, Crawley, Brook and Jamie Smith are there but the one who has really held this team together is Joe Root. So when he fished outside the off-stump and was caught behind, that really was what the Indian team wanted. They then suddenly had two inexperienced players at either end and therefore you could put pressure on them, which is exactly what India did,” he added.

However, Sunil Gavaskar believes the conditions became overcast late on Day 4, which played a key role in India’s stunning comeback win at the Oval as well.

“It got a little overcast and that helped the ball to swing a lot more. What we’ve seen is the new ball 10-15 overs old comes on to the bat nicely and then it starts to swing. Again from 30-40 overs, it becomes easier for the batters because the ball doesn’t do much. But the overcast conditions helped the ball to swing a little bit and that’s where the wickets came,” concluded Sunil Gavaskar.