A Battle Of Courage, Glory And Greatness

“Kisi cheez ko agar dil se chaho, toh poori kainaat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.”
Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic dialogue perfectly sums up what we just witnessed in this unforgettable India vs England Test series. For 25 days, we were glued to our screens, biting our nails, cheering, hoping, and in the end, applauding one of the greatest series in modern Test cricket.

𝙈.𝙊.𝙊.𝘿 𝙊𝙫𝙖𝙡 🥳#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/kdODjFeiwE

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 4, 2025

This wasn’t just a battle between bat and ball. It was a war of character. It was young Shubman Gill’s India taking on the seasoned England side led by the Bazball bravado. From massive chases to epic collapses, heroic centuries to breathtaking spells – this series had it all.

Let’s walk through how the drama unfolded, one Test at a time;

1st Test, Headingley – England’s Bazball Strikes First

The series kicked off in style at Headingley. India batted beautifully with centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant. But from 430/3, they slipped to 471 all out, thanks to Josh Tongue’s sharp spell.

England responded strongly, with Ollie Pope scoring a hundred and Harry Brook missing his by just one run. The game was evenly matched at that point.

India again put up runs in their second innings with KL Rahul and Pant scoring big, but once again, the lower order fell apart. England were left chasing 371, but with Duckett and Crawley adding 188 for the first wicket, they made the task look easy. Duckett smashed a century, and Root calmly guided them home.

Result: England won.
Series Score: ENG 1 – 0 IND

2nd Test, Edgbaston – Rise of the Prince

If there were any doubts about Shubman Gill’s potential as a leader and batter, they were put to rest here. A double century in the first innings, followed by another ton in the second – Gill was simply unstoppable.

India scored big, and though England fought back with a massive partnership between Brook and Jamie Smith, they couldn’t match India’s total. In the second innings, India’s bowlers, led by Akash Deep, tore through England’s batting lineup.

Result: India won by 336 runs.
Series Score: ENG 1 – 1 IND

3rd Test, Lord’s – A Thriller for the Ages

This Test was straight out of a movie script. Both teams scored almost the same in their first innings – Root with a century for England, and Rahul matching him for India.

In the second innings, Washington Sundar picked up four wickets to bowl England out for just 192. But India, chasing a modest total, collapsed to 112/8. Ravindra Jadeja, with all his heart, fought back. It was nearly a miracle. But just when India thought they had it, Siraj was bowled by an unplayable ball. The image of Siraj hunched over in disbelief – that’s Test cricket for you.

Result: England won a tight contest.
Series Score: ENG 2 – 1 IND

4th Test, Old Trafford – Defiance in the Draw

A draw? Yes. But what a draw!

England piled on a huge 669, with Root scoring 150 and Stokes chipping in with a century and a five-wicket haul. India were way behind in the game. But they refused to surrender.

Rahul, Gill, Jadeja, and Washington Sundar showed incredible grit. They batted and batted, wearing down the English bowlers. Pant, unbelievably, played with a broken foot. On the other side, Stokes gave everything he had before his body gave up.

Result: Match drawn.
Series Score: ENG 2 – 1 IND

5th Test, The Oval – India’s Great Escape

The series finale was a blockbuster. India struggled in the first innings but managed to cross 200, thanks to a gritty fifty from Karun Nair. England raced to 92/0 in no time, but Siraj sparked a collapse, and they were bowled out for 247.

In the second innings, Jaiswal got another century – his second of the series and Sundar chipped in again. India set a target of 374.

England were cruising at 301/3, with Brook and Root scoring centuries. But just when it seemed over, Siraj and Prasidh turned the game on its head. Yorker after yorker, outswing after outswing – England collapsed. From 301/3, they were bowled out for 367.

Chris Woakes batted one-handed in the end, but India had pulled off the impossible.

Result: India won by 6 runs.
Series Score: ENG 2 – 2 IND

A Series to Remember

This wasn’t just a 2-2 draw. It was a celebration of Test cricket.

• Shubman Gill emerged as a true leader.
• Jaiswal and Pant lit up the series with their flair.
• Siraj was the heartbeat of the bowling attack.
• England’s batters fought fire with fire, and their aggression never faded.

The fans were the real winners. Five Tests, countless memories, and proof that no format can match the drama, emotion, and beauty of Test cricket.