Joe Root’s belief in his team’s resilience shone through as he insisted England’s lower‑order would deliver under pressure in the final Test against India. With just 35 runs needed on day five of the match at The Oval, Root spoke with quiet conviction that the tail‑end batters possessed the grit to finish the job. He acknowledged it had been “one hell of a series,” swinging back and forth over six weeks, but insisted that England had the personnel to close it out. England went into that final morning confident, having closed day four on 339‑6, trailing by only a handful of runs on a thrilling final session marred by bad light and a turn in India’s momentum.

Root’s own contributions were vital. He posted his 39th Test century his third of the series bringing up the milestone in commanding fashion and putting himself level with Sunil Gavaskar in career tons. That innings anchored a vital 195‑run partnership with Harry Brook, whose blistering 111 off 91 balls surged England into contention. Root’s trust in the lower order wasn’t unfounded. With players like Chris Woakes ready to bat despite injury, that depth had repeatedly shown its worth. As rain delayed the finish, the team remained optimistic. Root emphasised that even if the senior batters fell, the lower order had everything needed to deliver the crucial runs needed to seal the series.

This was more than just a chase it was a testament to England’s belief in collective strength. Root’s calm assurance revealed the bedrock of confidence within the dressing room, and by the final morning, England looked poised, full of belief, to deliver the elusive series triumph.