“This is a gone series. No way this team will be able to perform in England without Virat and Rohit. I think it’ll be very difficult for India to win even one match.”
These were the common phrases we heard before the start of India’s England tour. All major cricket ‘experts’ had predicted 4-1, 3-1 kind of scoreline in the favour of hosts. And it was not that unreasonable, after all it was the first assignment for a young unit under new captain Shubman Gill, whose own batting record in whites was underwhelming. A big tour against England’s Bazball, without Virat, Rohit and Ashwin (though he wasn’t a big match winner in overseas, barring the 2020-22 tour Down Under), so the concerns were there. But, as it turned out, the New Gen Team India ended up proving everybody wrong and successfully retained the nderson Tendulkar Trophy (ATT) by levelling the closely contested series 2-2.
In this Blog, I will elaborate on Team India’s promising show in England, the positive takeaways and a glaring concern that I observed. Fasten your seatbelts!
1st Test: India lose despite dominating majority of game
Ben Stokes won the toss, and as has been his trend in the ‘Bazball’ era, chose to bowl at Leeds. There were ominous concerns about how the batting will fare up in the English conditions, and what combinations India will go with. As it turned out, India was off to a flying start as Rahul and Jaiswal put up a 91-run opening st. After Rahul got out for a well-made 42, and Sai Sudarshan (who was given the 3rd spot) got out for a duck, the mantle was taken by skipper Gill himself.
Both Jaiswal (101) and Gill (147) went on to score fabulous hundreds. It was followed by Pant’s authoritative century (134), further propelling India to 430/3. But, there came a twist. After these centurions, Karun Nair got out for a duck, followed by Thakur (1), and what followed was an unbelievable collapse, with the whole team getting bottled up at 471. Despite having such an advantage, India failed to reach even 500, let alone 600.
The English batters came out in their usual Bazball style, piling up runs at over 5 runs per over. While Bumrah was creating pressure from one end, he was not getting the required support from Siraj or Prasidh, leading to the batters making their way out. Helped by Pope’s 106 and Brook’s 99, followed by some good job by the tail, England reach 465, only 6 runs short to India’s total, thanks to Bumrah’s fifer.
In the second innings, India again came out with solid intentions. Though, Jaiswal fell early, Rahul went on to score the hundred he missed in the first innings. After Sai (30) and Gill (8) got out early, Pant once again took the mantle scoring his second hundred of the game, with a berserk 118. But, once again, just when India was looking really good at 333-4, came another collapse and India was all out for 364 losing 6 wickets for 31 runs.
Though, 371 is a good target, but in the flat Bazball wickets, it wasn’t going to be that big a demon for the English batters. Both openers launched a brutal assault on the Indian bowlers, and much for India’s worry, even Bumrah wasn’t able to keep them under control this time. The first wicket fell only at the score of 188. Ben Duckett’s 149 did much of their job. And though Shardul got two quick wickets, Root and Jamie Smith made sure with their unbeaten knocks that England chased the target comfortably with five wickets in hand. This game was going to hurt India, as despite dominating majority of the sessions in the game, they were blown away by the English batters on the final day.
2nd Test: India pose stunning comeback, record historic win
Stokes again won the toss, calling India to bat again, hoping for a similar story as the previous game. The pressure was on India, who was also missing the services of Bumrah. But this time India had come with firmer intent. After Rahul was dismissed early, Jaiswal took charge of playing eloquent shots. He missed on to a well-deserved hundred as he got out on 87. Shubman Gill continued with his sublime form, this time scoring a monumental double hundred (269) and when India stood at 211/4, stitched a 200-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (89) taking the team to a huge score. India’s management had made a huge gamble, against popular opinion, by picking Sundar over Kuldeep, but with his fine 42-run knock from back-end, Sundar proved his selection right taking India to just 13 short of 600 (587).
This time, England was pretty much under pressure against a mounting total. In Bumrah’s absence, it was Mohammed Siraj who took the charge running through the English lineup, reducing them to 84/5, from where the hosts looked absolutely doomed. But Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184*) decided to counter-attack on the Indian bowlers. But, once the scorecard read 387/6, the Indian bowlers didn’t allow much tail wagging this time, bundling up the whole team for 407. Siraj’s six-fer and Akash Deep’s four-fer handed India a massive 180-run lead.
Coming out to bat in second innings, Indian batters knew their precise job; score a quick 300 and then try bowling England out. Jaiswal’s quickfire 28 off 22, and Rahul’s solid 55 took India off to a flying start. Following this, Gill registered his third hundred in the series. As he reached his 100 at Day 4 Lunch, suspense brewed around India’s declaration. After Lunch, Gill took the mantle of scoring quick runs and reached 161 off just 162 balls (perhaps the fastest ever hundred by any skipper in England). Pant’s 65 and Jadeja’s unbeaten 69 took India to 427/6 and total lead across 600. India declared and gave England a mammoth target of 608.
India got to bowl around 15 overs on the fourth day, and it was enough for Akash Deep and Siraj to catch 3 big fishes, reducing England to 50/3. On the fifth day, India continued with their hunt, again putting England at 83/5. Jamie Smith played a lone warrior knock of 88, and despite some resistance from Stokes (33) and Carse (38), the hosts were bundled out for 271. India registered a massive and historic 336 run win at Edgbaston, a first at the venue. This time, it was Akash Deep who shined with six wickets (and 10-wicket in the game, despite tensions at home (his sister had an operation). This was a comeback for the ages, just when our head was against the wall. And, Captain Gill himself led the side from front and destroyed the whole ‘Bazball’ pride amassing 430 runs in one game.
3rd Test: India suffer close heartbreak at Lord’s
After the crushing defeat in the second Test, England realized that India has actually cracked the ‘Bazball’ code, and made a ‘brave’ call to return to a classic English Test match wicket for the Lord’s game. In a rarity, Stokes opted to bat first after winning the toss (only 2nd time in Bazball era). On a challenging wicket, India produced two early wickets reducing England at 44/2, but from there Joe Root took charge and making the most of his form, scored a great century. Along with useful contributions from Stokes, Pope and fifties from Smith and Carse, England reached 387. Bumrah drew his maiden fifer at Lord’s and second of this series.
In response, India lost Jaiswal early and Karun (40) too couldn’t capitalize on to his start. Gill’s departure left India 107/3, but Rahul had held one end firmly, showing great composure and temperament. He stitched a solid partnership with Pant, and scored his second hundred of the series, and second at the venue. Pant, who made 74 at a brisk pace, too was nearing his hundred, but in a huge blunder, tried to grab a quick single, and ended up being run out. This unneeded run turned out to be the turning point of the game. After Rahul’s departure at 100, the Indian innings moved at turtle’s pace. Jadeja’s 72 and some valuable contributions from Nitish (30) and Sundar (23) took India to exactly 387.
In the second innings, Indian bowlers came blazing at England batters, reducing them to 87/4. Root and skipper Stokes tried to build a big partnership, but weren’t successful for long, as Sundar’s spin came ‘out of syllabus’, who by extracting good turn from the wicket, registered four scalps. No English batter was able to score a fifty, and the England innings was wrapped at the score of 192.
As India came out to bat on the fourth day, it lost Jaiswal early. Following this, Karun and Rahul stitched a good-looking partnership, but just half an hour before the end of day’s play, Nair left a ball that came sharply onto his pads getting him out LBW. This turned out to be a HUGE opening for England. Gill (6) got out on another good delivery by Carse. Nightwatchman Akash Deep tried his best to survive the day, but a crushing delivery from Stokes knocked off his stumps just in the last over, leaving India 58/4.
Things remained challenging for India on Day 5 too, as first Jofra knocked off Pant (9). and after that Rahul, team’s only hope, too was trapped LBW by Stokes. Sundar getting out on duck left India 82/7, and the game effectively seemed in England’s pocket with commentators even starting to discuss that. But, one guy, Ravindra Jadeja, stood up against the odds. First, with Nitish Reddy, and then with the tail, he slowly moved the chase taking it as deep as possible (game still went into 3rd session). Not to forget, Bumrah and Siraj showed massive resistance holding one end and playing over 80 balls combined.
But, in another heartbreaking twist for India, a well-defended ball from Siraj, somehow sneaked past him to touch the stumps just enough to get the bails off. Team India’s hopes were shattered. It was handed a heartbreaking loss of 22 runs. Jadeja’s lone warrior knock (unbeaten 61 off 181) went in vain, just in regrets, whether he could’ve tried 2-3 more big hits. With this, Lord’s (2025) joined the list of Edgbaston (2018) and Cape Town (2018) in India’s list of heartbreaking chases.
4th Test: India puts up gritty Draw against might England
This game was at Old Trafford, another ground India hasn’t won any game. India was missing Akash Deep, Arshdeep and Nitish due to injury. The situation was so bad that the team had to bring Anshul Kamboj in the team as cover, and Bumrah who would’ve ideally rested in the game had to play.
Stokes won his fourth successive toss and invited India to bat, which got to a good start with Rahul and Jaiswal putting a 94-run opening stand. Sai Sudarshan, who replaced Karun Nair in the game, also played a decent knock of 61 runs. Pant too was looking very good till 37, when a yorker from Archer ended up breaking his toe, while attempting a reverse sweep. The Indian wicket-keeper batter already had a few injury concerns, and this incident gave a further dent to it. However, on the second day, when India needed, Pant came out to bat with a broken foot and hit a four and six to reach his fifty, before being bowled by Archer. Some good efforts from Thakur (41) and Sundr (27) took India to a decent 358.
The English batters came out with clear intentions…brutal assault. The Indian bowlers struggled badly, as the openers piled up 161-runs for the opening partnership. After Crawley (84), Duckett (94) and Pope (71), Root (150) and Stokes (141) went on to score daddy hundreds, following some resistance from tail, all of which took the English score to 669, handing the hosts a massive lead of 311 runs. Stokes idea was to get India out under that total and win by an innings. Afterall, England have won a couple of games in this template under the ‘Bazball’ era.
The Indian batters had huge task at hand, but they were not helped as first Jaiswal and then Sai got out at ducks leaving India 0/2. Rahul and Gill held the innings from there making sure India lost no more wickets on the fourth day. On the final day, the two batters continued their display of grit and patience, not losing any wicket in the first session. Post Lunch, Rahul, unfortunately, missed his hundred and got out at 90. Gill too got out after scoring his fourth hundred of the series (perhaps his career best one).
But, just when England thought they had got an opening, Jadeja and Sundar went out with rock-solid intentions, and the tired bowlers failed to get any more wicket in the whole game. Pant, too could’ve come had India needed, but the two guys out there sorted things well. A little drama unfolded when Stokes wanted to call off the game and took a dig at both batters who wanted to go for their well-deserved hundreds. How pissed off the England was, effectively showed that this gritty draw felt like a defeat to them, and turned out to be a major morale booster ahead of the series finale. I also believe, India shouldn’t have called off even then, and instead had played the remaining 15 overs frustrating the hosts further.
5th Test: India pulls off historic win in a nail-biter
in a major development ahead of the final game; Stokes, Archer, Carse and Dawson were all ruled out due to injury. The English-side now led by Ollie Pope was to much disadvantage, but still had its core batting in place. India, went with a smart team selection, bringing an extra batter in the form of Karun at 6, and both Prasidh and Akash Deep returned in injured Bumrah’s (minor injury) absence. The Oval wicket was not an easy one at start. After India was reduced to 38/2, Sai put up a gritty 38 off 108, but wickets kept falling at the other end. Eventually, Karun’s selection turned out to be a wise decision, whose decent fifty took India past 200. However, on the second day, the batters couldn’t hold long, and the innings was wrapped at 224.
England came out in full flow again, this time scoring at above 6 runs per over. As they put up a 92-run opening stand, things looked gloomy for India, but as it turned out, the ‘collapse virus’ had transferred from the visitors to the hosts by the end of the series. After Crawley (64), Duckett (43) and Brook (53), no batter could go long, and from 195/5, the whole team was bundled out at 247, managing a small lead of 23 runs.
As has been the nature of the Oval ground, the wicket had eased out a bit in the second innings. Making most of it, Jaiswal put up a grand display of batting and ended the tour with his second hundred of the series. When Sudarshan got out at end of second day’s play, India at 70/2 sent Akash Deep as nightwatchman, who not just stood there for the day, but went on overdrive mode the next day. He got out after a well-made 66 in what was one of the best performances by an Indian night watchman ever. After Gill and Karun got out early, Jadeja (53), Jurel (34) and Sundar with his quickfire 53 off 46 took India to a decent 396, putting up a huge target of 374 runs for England. But, it was not going to be an easy job for India as this same England team had chased 371 and 378 against this Indian team in the past.
Siraj had bowled Crawley just before the end of third day’s play. On the fourth day, India was quick to get Pope and Duckett too leaving England 112/3. But just when India looked comfortable, Harry Brook and Joe Root put up an unbelievable display of batting. While Root played in his usual sensible form, Brook went on overdrive counter attacking against the bowlers. When Brook was on 19, he was caught in the deep by Siraj, but the pacer unaware of boundary line, ended up touching the ropes. That lost opportunity was haunting India badly. The two batters put up a 195-run partnership. With less than 80 runs needed to win, and no ray of hope imminent, the game and series seemed gone for India.
But, Gill and company refused to give up. As Brook tried to hit another big one against Akash, the bat slipped out of his hand, and the ball went up in the air before being safely taken by Siraj. India got the opening it needed. Jacob Bethell didn’t find it easy (at one time was batting at 1 off 23) and trying to break the shackles got bowled off Prasidh. England only needed 42 to win and Root was there. But, he too ended up playing a really lose shot to nick it onto the safe hands of Jurel, as Prasidh delivered another breakthrough putting India on top. Another twist awaited the story. Bad light followed by drizzles meant the day’s play was wrapped up and both teams had to come for the final day with England needing 35 runs and India, 4 wickets.
It was clear that India needed to get the two Jamies (Smith and Overton) soon. The day didn’t started on ideal note as Overton hit consecutive boundaries. In the next over, Siraj nicked off Smith and in the subsequent over, trapped Overton in front of the wicket. Prasidh knocked off the stumps of Josh Tongue leaving England at 357/9. Injured Chris Woakes came out to bat in a great show of strength, but it was clear, he will only be able to manage at the non-striker’s end. Gus Atkinson took the responsibility of scoring. Out of nowhere, he slogged a stunning six off Siraj. The two batters had brought the target under 10 runs. Here, India too was being as calm as possible, taking the game deep. England needed just 7 runs to win. Siraj came to bowl the 86th over. Atkinson tried to slog, but Siraj with his 143 kmph yorker rattled both his stumps and ambition, handing India a thrilling 6-run win (India’s narrowest ever). The young Indian Team entered the folklore for recording one of the most famous and defining victories of all time. The game also served a testament to the fact that Test cricket is the GREATEST sport alive. Yes, India should’ve won the series, but 2-2 seemingly was a fitting scoreline for such a closely contested series. Hats off to Stokes and company for being such good competitive blokes.
Photo: ICC
Future is in Safe Hands
A lot of questions surrounded this Indian Team, Gill’s leadership and Gambhir’s future with the team. But, as it turned out, we can safely say the team is in very safe hands. Gill, Jaiswal and Pant form the core of this young team, and all of them have only upwards to go. And am very happy that Rahul, a player I’ve liked immensely, is finally making the most out of his invaluable talent. It seems his prime years are ahead. Gill got the series he badly needed to prove himself at the highest level in whites, and I hope he continues with this consistency. As a captain too, he did a pretty fine job. There were times, he struggled, but considering it was his first series, I’m pretty sure he’ll learn.
However, the bigger positives are in the bowling side, especially pacers. With Siraj taking charge as India’s prime pacer, lasting all five games with same sheer pace, is a big plus. He along with Bumrah, Prasidh and Akash Deep has to form the next core of Indian fast bowling (considering Bumrah won’t play all games). Also, it’s time to bring Arshdeep too in the mix and make our pace attack more potent. On spin front too, Jadeja and Sundar have been phenomenal, especially as batters.
There are couple of areas where work needs to be done. India still hasn’t fixed its number 3 batter, and Nitish Reddy, despite being promising hasn’t earned his place completely. Both Sai and Karun deserve more chances, especially with the upcoming home season. I would also hope to see Abhimanyu Eashwaran getting some games at home. Concerns surround Akash Deep’s fitness and Prasidh’s consistency, and the management has to work on it. The team also has to find a way to bring in Kuldeep at least in home, as he is too good a talent to spend his entire Test career on bench (he hasn’t even played 10 games).
The series was very important for Gautam Gambhir and the management. GG has been under intense scrutiny after losses against Sri Lanka, New Zealand at home and then the BGT. He got a bit of resurgence with the Champions Trophy victory. But, this was the first proper assignment with a complete young unit. By levelling the series against a strong side, GG will now have more leverage at the table. I said this before, you may or may not like him, but he is someone who wants the best for the team and will build a strong unit by the time he leaves.
Meanwhile, recent reports suggest, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the two absolute legends of the game, especially the format, don’t have their places secure in the ODI setup going into the 2027 World Cup. Rohit will be 40 and Virat 38 at the time of WC. Fitness might be an issue for the former, but not for the latter. Something which can bother them is the huge gap between ODIs as both have retired from other 2 formats.
With a lot of young talents; Sai, Jaiswal, Tilak knocking at the door, Rohit and Virat can’t take their spots for guarantee. However, I genuinely believe, that ODI is not a format we need to worry about these 2 guys. If they keep performing, it won’t be easy for anyone to get them out of the team. And both of them deserve this much. Anything less than that would be a grave disservice. So, interesting and important times ahead for Indian cricket and its future.
A Glaring Concern
Now, coming to the ‘concern’ that I pointed earlier. It’s regarding Jasprit Bumrah. No, not his fitness, but the treatment he is getting by a bunch of disgraceful and dumb pieces of mind for focusing on his body. Bumrah had made it clear well before the series that he would only play 3 games. That was precisely the reason, he turned up the decision to lead the team. In the five innings he played, Bumrah took 14 wickets including two 5-fers. Now, if that feels ‘underwhelming’ to some people, then it’s about their understanding and Bumrah’s class.
At the same time, a bunch of lockdown kids are taking dig at him in the name of ‘workload management’. Even more concerning is the fact that senior cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Sandip Patil criticising him for that. I have much respect for the ex-players, but their recent statements suggest either age has taken over them, or they have no idea about the modern-day game. Bumrah is not missing out games for fun, his body is forcing him to. One needs to understand that every sportsperson’s body is built different, and if Bumrah feels he needs proper gap between games to be at his best, it should be respected.
Also, Bumrah has just recovered from a career-threatening injury following the Australia tour. If he incurs a similar thing again, his career might end. It’s jarring that people are not able to understand the gravity of the matter. Bumrah is country’s national treasure and he has to be used cautiously; in the ICC tournaments, Australia, England and any other big tours/series. And, I don’t think that’s a big cost to incur, when you have the world’s BEST pacer in the side.
“Ek taraf Mohammed hai, doosre taraf Krishna”: Shubman Gill
