By Trisha Ghosal in London
Some series give you statistics. Some, silverware. But every once in a while, cricket gifts you a saga, one that rises above results, formats, and headlines. The 2025 England versus India Test series was one such saga.
It was a theatre staged across cathedrals of the game; Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, The Oval, Old Trafford and carried the weight of history, legacy, and heart. It gave us the thrill of a 371-run chase and the silence of a single bail falling in heartbreak. It gave us cartwheels and cracked bones, legends on balconies and pioneers at bells. But more than anything else, it gave us moments, raw, defiant, unforgettable.
Here are 10 such moments that didn’t just define the series, they defined what it means to play, to feel, and to belong to this beautiful game.
1 – When Sunil Gavaskar Cheered for a Cartwheel
In the first Test at Headingley, Rishabh Pant brought up his century in style, one he’s made his own since that IPL ton against RCB by performing a cartwheel. So when Pant notched up another hundred in the second innings, all eyes were on him. This time, Sunil Gavaskar himself emerged on the Headingley balcony, clapping joyously and gesturing for Pant to do it again. Pant, battling cramps, smiled and waved: “Next time.” It was a rare sight, India’s first great Test opener urging the maverick Pant to somersault in celebration. Generations connected, joy shared.
2 – 371? Just Another Bazball Day
Since 2022, Bazball has made the improbable feel routine. But chasing 371 on Day 5, even on a flat pitch, isn’t child’s play. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett made a mockery of the scoreboard with a blistering 188-run opening stand. When England stuttered to 253/4, in came the calm: Joe Root and Jamie Smith steered them home with poise. It was England’s second-highest fourth-innings chase and one of their boldest.
3 – Agony. Agony. Ecstasy – Mohammed Siraj
Day 5, Lord’s. India need 22 to win. Siraj blocks a ball, middle of the bat, only for it to roll back and dislodge a bail. Silence. Then tears.
Day 4, The Oval. Siraj catches Harry Brook on the boundary… or so he thinks. His foot brushes the cushion. Heartbreak again.
Day 5, The Oval. England are one hit away from tying the match and winning the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Siraj charges in for his 1113th ball of the series and hits Gus Atkinson’s off stump. Game. Series. Siraj. At that moment, one billion Indians forgot religion, background, or bias. A cricketer in whites had done it for all.
4 – A Legacy of Fire: Ganguly to Kohli to Gill
Two overs remained on Day 3 at Lord’s. England openers were late to the crease, India wasn’t having it. Zak Crawley was met not with seam but with a storm of words. Fielders crowded close, tempers flared, and drama unfolded. This wasn’t just cricket; it was heritage. From Ganguly’s shirts-off aggression at Lord’s to Kohli’s intensity and now Gill’s charged presence, the fire was being passed on, louder, prouder.
5 – Pain is Temporary. Country is Forever.
A fractured finger couldn’t stop Shoaib Bashir from taking the last Indian wicket at Lord’s. A fractured foot didn’t stop Rishabh Pant from scoring a fifty at Old Trafford. And with one working arm, the other under his jumper, Chris Woakes ran hard singles to keep England alive. When Pant and Woakes walked out to bat, the crowd rose in unison. The scoreboard didn’t matter. The fight did.
6 – A Century of Love: Joe Root’s Tribute to Graham Thorpe
Day 2 of the fifth Test at The Oval was “A Day for Thorpey.” It would’ve been Graham Thorpe’s birthday, Root’s mentor, confidant, and friend who lost his life to mental illness. Root wore a headband for him all day, never once removing it. On Day 4, he raised his bat for a century and to the sky. The headband remained. The grief lingered. The love endured.
7 – Flat Pitch. Dead Ball. Fiery Heart – Akash Deep
The Dukes ball was falling apart. The Edgbaston pitch was flatter than paper. And yet, Akash Deep rose like a storm. Jasprit Bumrah was absent. Akash was relentless. Behind every delivery was the thought of his sister, battling cancer. His second-innings spell decimated England and gave India a landmark victory. Sometimes the most unplayable weapon isn’t the ball—it’s love.
8 – 754 Runs and a Touch of Humility
“I want to be the best batter in the series,” Shubman Gill had said. He ended with 754 runs, four centuries, and a sublime 269. He fell just short of Sunil Gavaskar’s legendary 774 from 1971, but earned something greater—Gavaskar’s respect. After the match, Gill touched Gavaskar’s feet. Sunny Sir responded with a warm hug, claps, and a gift. The past embraced the future.
9 – The Handshake That Shook the Spirit
Old Trafford, Day 5. Fifteen overs left. England were spent. With India cruising, Ben Stokes offered the handshake. But Ravindra Jadeja was on 89*, Washington Sundar on 85*. India declined—centuries were within reach. The English team scoffed, smirked, and shook their heads. At the press conference, Stokes admitted: “We too might’ve done the same.” Tension lingered. Pride clashed with sportsmanship. And cricket remained gloriously human.
10 – Mithali at the Home of Cricket
On Day 4 at Lord’s, India’s greatest woman cricketer, Mithali Raj, rang the iconic five-minute bell. At a ground where women once weren’t even allowed in the pavilion, here was Mithali, trailblazer, leader, and quiet giant, honoured for her service to the game. Lord’s stood still. For a moment, time bowed down to grace.
She has represented India when there was no recognition, no money, and very few series to play annually. She stood tall through it all, carrying a generation on her shoulders. To see her ring the bell at Lord’s wasn’t just a gesture, it was poetic justice.
The “Home” of Indian women’s cricket ringing the bell at the “Home” of cricket.
This wasn’t just a Test series. It was theatre. It was pain, purpose, pride, and playfulness, all rolled into five matches across iconic venues. From cartwheels to broken fingers, from quiet tributes to raging confrontations, the series gave us cricket not as a sport, but as a stirring story of humanity. One we’ll be talking about for generations.
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