How The India-England Series Is Breathing New Life Into Test Cricket! News24 –

By Siddhaarth Mahan

As the third Test at Lord’s wrapped up in a thriller, there was a moment of quiet reflection among Indian fans gathered outside the North Gate. Despite India’s narrow defeat, there was little sense of disappointment. Instead, there were smiles, debates, and animated chatter. Over the past few weeks, as I’ve crisscrossed England covering this fiercely contested Test series, one thing has stood out – Test cricket is not just alive, it’s positively buzzing!

From the packed stands at Edgbaston to the electric energy at Headingley and the unforgettable five-day theatre at Lord’s, this India-England series has rekindled fans’ passion for the oldest format of the game. This is in sharp contrast to the skepticism among fans and experts alike prior to this series. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having moved on from the format, and stalwarts like James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired on the English side, many feared the series might lack the box-office appeal of the past. The IPL too loomed large and questions hung heavy – would fans turn up? Could we see the decline of Test cricket?

Three Tests in, those fears have been emphatically answered. The skill and emotion we’ve witnessed have made this one of the most engaging India-England contests in recent memory.

The Lord’s Test especially embodied this spirit. There were collapses and counterpunches, brutal spells and defiant partnerships but what stood out the most was the final-day epic between arguably the world’s two best all-rounders at the moment, Ravindra Jadeja and Ben Stokes.

On that tense day 5, as the match teetered on a knife’s edge, Jadeja dug in, keen to grind out an Indian win. Across from him, Stokes, defying physical fatigue, sent down a punishing 9-over spell, took a brief breather and came back for a marathon 10-over burst, sweat pouring, every muscle straining. From the upper tiers of the Lord’s Pavilion to the noisy Compton’s stand, fans were glued to every defensive shot, every leave, every diving stop in the field. The roars weren’t reserved for boundaries, they were for survival, for resilience, for the purest expression of Test cricket’s mental battles.

What’s also been striking in this series is how the experience of attending Test matches in England plays such a vital role in sustaining this engagement. The English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) deserves real credit. Be it the family zones, affordable day-five tickets, dedicated fan activations or the effortless blend between tradition and accessibility. Lord’s, often seen as the home of old-school cricket, felt refreshingly modern, the infrastructure world-class, the stewarding friendly, and an atmosphere that invited fans in rather than keeping them at arm’s length.

It’s a lesson for cricket boards globally, including the BCCI, that if you invest in the fan experience, fans will reward you with loyalty, even in the oldest, toughest format. Every Test in this series has had full days, vibrant noise, and a festival feel, this is how Test cricket survives and thrives.

Even at Lord’s, after India’s narrow loss, I spoke to fans who were still grinning. “We lost, but we lived every moment. That’s sport,” said Aniket, a London-based Indian supporter. Priya, who travelled from Birmingham, summed it up beautifully: “I’m not going home disappointed. It was five days of drama, and I’ll be back for the Oval.”

“We may have lost this one, but this series is the best Test cricket I’ve watched in years,” said Hari who especially travelled from Chennai to support India at Lords! It’s a sentiment echoed across social media and stadiums. The ongoing India-England Test series has emerged as a perfect advertisement for why the longest format remains the most gripping theatre in cricket.

This series has also emphatically put to rest any notions that Indian cricket was heading for a dull transitional period. Shubman Gill’s growing authority with the bat, Jaiswal’s attacking brilliance, Akashdeep’s dream spell in Edgbaston, and Bumrah’s ever-reliable hostility , a new core is already in place, fearlessly taking on the Bazball juggernaut.

The rivalries too have evolved- Jaiswal vs Archer, Bumrah vs Root, all setting up fresh chapters in this storied contest. As one young fan told me after the Lords epic, “I grew up with Kohli vs Anderson, but Jadeja-Stokes is our generation’s rivalry now.”

Even English fans, often vocal about their own domestic cricket woes, were generous in praise. “Proper cricket, proper fight,” said Tom Hughes, a veteran MCC volunteer. “This is why we love the five-day game. You see character, not just sixes.” Even Dominica, a girl from St. Albans, watching test cricket for the first time was delighted. “The atmosphere was really nice, people were lovely and everyone should watch Test cricket. It’s really really fun!”

With two Tests to go and England 2-1 up, the stage is perfectly set. Old Trafford awaits; with both teams knowing one big performance could swing the series. Among Indian fans, I noticed an unshakeable optimism. “It’s not over till it’s over,” said Dhruv, an Indian student here, echoing the belief many of us feel after watching the grit this team has shown.

The experts agree too. Former English Test cricketer, Derek Pringle, draws parallels with the iconic 2005 Ashes, noting this series’ similar cocktail of momentum shifts, high-skill battles, and relentless competitiveness. Further he also said that both teams can push it if they maintain the quality and the tempo in the next couple of matches.

For me, this series has been a reminder of why I fell in love with cricket in the first place. It’s been refreshing to cover a series where every day matters, where players sweat for runs, and fans stay till the final session, sometimes booing, often cheering, but always invested. In a world of instant entertainment, this India-England contest has proved that the patient drama of Test cricket still has the power to captivate.

The road ahead promises more drama. Old Trafford, another iconic English venue, more individual battles, and perhaps a memorable Indian fightback. But regardless of the final result, this series has already achieved something significant: it has rekindled fans’ love for Test cricket, proving that the old format is still the finest theatre of the sport.

And sometimes, in cricket, that’s the real victory!

About The Author

Siddhaarth Mahan is a prolific sports writer, especially on cricket, hosts a popular sports TV show, and creates digital sports programs. With a background as a filmmaker and former state-level cricketer, he brings a storyteller’s touch and a keen eye for the game’s deeper narratives.

ALSO READ: Ravindra Jadeja Getting Unfairly Blamed Despite His Heroics In Lord’s Test?