NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor turned cheerleader-in-chief after India’s heart-stopping six-run win over England in the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy on Monday. But amid the celebration, he also issued a mea culpa for doubting the team’s chances in the absence of Virat Kohli.“Words fail me… WHAT A WIN!” Tharoor posted on X after the series-clinching victory. “Absolutely exhilarated & ecstatic for Team India… The grit, determination, and passion on display were simply incredible.”India’s fightback came down to the wire at The Oval, with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna turning the tide by sharing nine wickets in England’s second innings. Siraj finished with a match tally of nine wickets, Krishna with six, and Akash Deep chipped in with five, handing India a narrow but historic win.Tharoor, who just a day earlier had pined for Kohli’s on-field intensity, admitted he was wrong. “I am sorry that I expressed a spasm of doubt about the outcome yesterday. But @mdsirajofficial never stopped believing! Shabash to our heroes,” he wrote.On Sunday, the Congress leader had posted, “I’ve been missing @imVkohli a few times during this series, but never as much as in this Test match… Is it too late to call him out of retirement? Virat, the nation needs you!”The fifth Test saw India bat first and score 224. England responded with 247, but India fought back with a solid 396-run second innings, setting up a tight finish. England were eventually bowled out for 367, falling just six runs short.The victory not only helped India draw the five-match series but also propelled them to third in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings, with 28 points and a 46.67% PCT. Australia and Sri Lanka currently occupy the top two spots.