This summer, India will head to England to face off in a fire test series for the first time in three years. Both sides are in dire need of an uptick in form, for differing reasons.
The Men in Blue have reached the last two World Test Championship finals, losing both. They first lost to New Zealand back in the summer of 2019, before falling once again, this time to Australia, three years later. However, in the 2023/25 WTC, the Indians missed out on the final after a disappointing series defeat in the Land Down Under at the turn of the year.
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| Old Trafford Cricket Ground - Photograph by Mark Stuckey / Unsplash |
England, meanwhile, will be heading to Australia in the winter to contest the Ashes Series, and they have a young squad that is in dire need of big-match experience. Online sports betting websites make them huge underdogs for that particular contest, and considering they haven't won a test on Australian soil since 2011, it's clear to see why. The latest odds from the popular Bovada’s sports website currently price the English as a +265 underdog for that end-of-year showdown, but firstly, they have the small matter of a tough series with India.
The last time the two nations met was just over a year ago, with India claiming a 4-1 series victory on home turf. But how have the Men in Blue fared on their most recent trips to England? Let's find out.
2021/22 - England Rescue a 2-2 Series Draw Thanks to Joe Root’s Magic
The last time England hosted a test series against India came back in 2021, and the contest ended up being one of the most unique in history. The first test at Trent Bridge ended in a draw, with the famous English weather taking center stage and raining out over 100 overs of action. The second saw the tourists take the advantage, winning by 151 runs, despite a sublime 180 not out from Joe Root in the first innings.
Following that loss, England battled back. They won by an innings in the third test at Headingley, with Root on song once more. The proud Yorkshireman hit another century on his home patch to tie things up, but they weren't level for long. The Indians once again hit the front in the fourth test, cruising to 157 run victory thanks to Rohit Sharma's patient century. Then, just days out for the fifth and final showdown, disaster struck.
The fifth test at Edgbaston wasn't disrupted by rain, but instead by wild global events that saw half the Indian team stricken with a virus. That forced the contest to be postponed indefinitely. Nearly a full calendar year later, the decider was finally staged, and what a spectacle it was, with England pulling off their highest-ever run chase to secure the win.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were the stars of the show, showcasing sublime form to chase down 387, with both scoring unbeaten centuries to rescue a 2-2 draw. The match was emblematic of the new, aggressive "Bazball" approach championed by coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
Root had not long been released from the burdens of captaincy and was an absolute revelation throughout the series. He piled up a jaw-dropping 737 runs across five matches—including four centuries—at an average of 105.28. To put that into perspective, Root's tally was almost double India’s top run-scorer Rishabh Pant, who could only manage 368. Will he deliver similarly sensational displays this summer?
2018 - England Dominate 4-1 Despite Virat Kohli's Brilliance
The 2018 series saw India arrive with high hopes. But despite superstar Virat Kohli leading the Men in Blue into battle, England reveled in their role as party poopers, clinching a dominant 4-1 victory over the visitors. However, even though his side lost, Virat delivered one of his very best series and erased the demons of his disappointing tour four years prior.
Kohli's batting was nothing short of magical. He racked up 593 glorious runs across the five tests, including two spell-binding centuries. Yet, his individual brilliance was not enough to counterbalance his side's collective struggles, especially when faced with the infallible two-pronged pace attack of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Those two combined to pick up 40 wickets and put their side on course for victory.
Former captain Alastair Cook was bowing out of Test cricket following the culmination of the series, and his sensational knock of 147 in his final-ever innings in the fifth test at the Oval was perhaps the highlight of the tournament. While the tale may read as a 4-1 thrashing, the series had its moments of competitiveness.
India’s solitary win at Trent Bridge came in commanding fashion, with Kohli painting a masterpiece innings and the bowlers delivering the goods. Unfortunately for him, though, England's unwavering composure ultimately secured them a resounding series victory.
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