India’s 2025 Test tour of England was packed with a series of record-breaking performances. It not only produced breathtaking moments but gave India many heroes to carry forward Test cricket, including three standouts. With veterans – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – retiring from Test cricket before the series, the mantle of leadership and the critical No. 4 batting position fell on 25-year-old Shubman Gill. Far from buckling under pressure, Gill seized the moment, delivering a masterclass in batting and captaincy that silenced doubters and heralded a new era for Indian cricket.
Gill’s twin centuries, a majestic 269 and a composed 161 at Edgbaston, were not just match-defining knocks but bold declarations of his intent. His authoritative strokeplay and leadership guided India through a challenging series, culminating in 754 runs across 10 innings. Gill’s emergence as a batting colossus and a composed captain marked him as the cornerstone of India’s future.
While Gill dominated with the bat, India’s pace attack, led by the indomitable Mohammed Siraj, proved equally formidable. With Jasprit Bumrah limited to three Tests due to workload management and Mohammed Shami not picked, Siraj stepped up as the spearhead. His relentless aggression and searing pace, clocking 140 km/h even on the 25th day of play, yielded 23 wickets, the most in the series. Siraj’s marathon effort, bowling 185 overs and inducing 283 false shots, earned him the Player of the Match award at The Oval and praise from England’s Joe Root, who called him a “real warrior.” Former captain Virat Kohli echoed this sentiment on X, lauding Siraj’s all-in commitment: “Special mention to Siraj who will put everything on the line for the team. Extremely happy for him.”
Siraj’s resilience was complemented by young pacers, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna, who claimed 13 and 14 wickets, respectively, troubling England’s batters in their limited outings. India’s pace battery thrived in English conditions, defying expectations and showcasing depth in the absence of their senior bowlers.
The batting unit, however, stole the spotlight, with three Indians, Gill (754), KL Rahul (534), and Ravindra Jadeja (516), scoring over 500 runs in the series. This feat marked only the sixth instance of a team achieving such a milestone in a Test series, and the first since Australia’s 1989 Ashes triumph. Jadeja, batting at No. 6 or lower, rewrote record books with six 50-plus scores, surpassing West Indies’ legend Sir Garfield Sobers’ long-standing mark from 1966. His 516 runs rank as the sixth instance of a batter scoring 500 or more runs in a series at No. 6 or lower, and his 1131 career runs at that position in England set a new benchmark for visiting players in any country.
Unbeaten in the second innings until the final Test, Jaseja amassed 315 runs before England finally dismissed him in the second innings of that game. His match-saving century at Old Trafford and a heroic 53 at The Oval, his second-lowest score of the series, underlined his consistency. At Lord’s, his unbeaten 181-ball 61 couldn’t prevent a 22-run loss, but his unbeaten 107 in Manchester, alongside Washington Sundar’s 101, forged a 203-run partnership to secure a draw. Jadeja’s series average of 86 places him among India’s all-time greats, with only Sunil Gavaskar (1971) boasting a higher second-innings average in a Test series.
Jadeja’s 10 fifty-plus scores at No. 6 or lower in England match Clive Lloyd’s record for a visiting player in any country, and only Sachin Tendulkar (12) has more such scores for India in England. His contributions, alongside Gill’s leadership and Siraj’s fire, made this series a showcase of India’s depth and determination.
This tour, marked by thrilling performances and historic milestones, will be remembered as the moment India’s new generation, with a few senior heads, stepped out of the shadows of their predecessors. Gill, Jadeja, and Siraj didn’t just win matches; they were the few standouts among many that put India’s next-gen on the global stage.
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