Cricket isn’t just a sport — it’s emotion stitched into every pitch, roar and silence between overs. It’s not just played on the field but in hearts, headlines, and heated WhatsApp debates. And in the purest format of the game — Test cricket — the battle isn’t just about skill but patience, mindset and moments that define legacies.
For Indians, cricket isn’t just a sport — it’s an emotion that lives in every gully, every living room and every heart. It’s the background score to childhood summers, family gatherings and even quiet weekday evenings. Whether it’s waking up early for overseas matches or praying during a close chase, cricket becomes personal. It brings strangers together and pauses the nation for just one six or a dramatic wicket.
However, the sound of Dhoni’s six in the 2011 World Cup final still echoes as one of Indian cricket’s most unforgettable moments. And Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in one over weren’t just power hitting — they were passion unleashed on the world stage. In India, it’s a religion; in England, a legacy. And when these two cricketing worlds collide, it’s nothing short of theatre. And right now, the India vs England Test series is giving us all of it — drama, dominance and deep pressure. Therefore, cricket is often called a gentleman’s game, but in the ongoing India vs England 2025 Test series, it feels like war — intense, strategic and full of unpredictable turns. As the two cricketing giants are fighting for the newly minted Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, this series has already gone beyond the scorecards.
Thus, the series kicked off at Headingley on June 20, 2025, with England winning the toss and opting to bowl first. India, under the fresh leadership of Shubman Gill, opened the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal and debutant Sai Sudharsan, a promising left-handed pair that gave the team a steady start in challenging English conditions.
It was captain Shubman Gill who stole the spotlight with a composed unbeaten century, guiding India to a strong first-innings total. India posted a competitive total of 471, to which England responded with 465, keeping the game finely balanced. In the second innings, India added 364 runs, setting England a target of 371.
Furthermore, England’s batting held firm in the final innings, a five-wicket victory that handed them an early series advantage. The match tested both teams’ endurance, with England emerging slightly sharper in the crucial moments. Just when critics began to doubt, India roared back — not with words, but with a statement-making win at Trent Bridge.
The second Test took place at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, starting on June 28, 2025, and saw India bounce back with purpose. This time, India won the toss and opted to bat first, sticking with the same opening pair of Jaiswal and Sudharsan, who gave yet another steady start.
Thus, England’s response was dented early, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj exploiting the overcast conditions, bundling them out for 218. India enforced the follow-on—a rare occurrence in recent years—and though England showed more fight in the second innings through Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes, they fell short.
India won by an innings and 47 runs, levelling the series 1–1 and reminding everyone that their dominance in red-ball cricket is far from fading. The third Test unfolded at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting on July 5, 2025, and marked a shift in momentum. England won the toss yet again and chose to bowl first. India’s top order stumbled early, with both Jaiswal and Sudharsan falling cheaply. While KL Rahul showed some resistance with a gritty 64, the rest of the lineup couldn’t convert starts, and India were bowled out for just 237.
Furthermore, England responded with confidence, led by a dominant Joe Root century, as they posted 412, taking a firm grip on the match. In the second innings, India managed 298, with Gill scoring a half-century but failing to convert under pressure. Chasing a modest 124, England cruised to victory with six wickets in hand, taking a 2–1 lead in the series.
Off the field, headlines were also made by Shubman Gill’s visible frustration during the match. His aggressive send-off to Zak Crawley and frequent animated appeals drew attention from commentators and fans alike, raising questions about composure under pressure. While some saw it as passion, others felt the young captain needed to channel his energy more constructively. The incident reflected the rising intensity of the series, which has now become not just a test of skills but of temperament too. Brydon Carse noted that they were “spurred on by Shubman Gill’s aggressive behaviour”, and they used it to fuel their edge. India walked onto the Old Trafford pitch with renewed hope, but England won the toss and chose to bowl first, continuing their early dominance. Day 1 saw a solid start from the openers, but the game turned when Rishabh Pant suffered a gruesome foot injury at 37, retiring hurt in visible pain and leaving the field in a golf buggy amid swelling and bleeding. That setback cast a shadow over India’s prospects.
However, Day 2 brought unexpected resilience. Defying expectations, Pant returned to bat, scoring a brave 54, even while hobbling, supported by Washington. Sundar and Shardul Thakur took India to 321–6 at lunch. Later, India was bowled out for 358, with Ben Stokes claiming a five-wicket haul—his first in eight years—and Jofra Archer also making crucial breakthroughs. Off the field, comments from Michael Vaughan warned that Pant’s likely absence for the rest of the series could swing momentum “by 25% in England’s favour”. The BCCI has confirmed Pant won’t be keeping wickets, with Dhruv Jurel taking over the gloves, and scans suggest the toe fracture may rule Pant out of the remainder of the tour.
As rain interrupted the play, the contest remains finely poised, and India’s fighting spirit, led by Pant’s gutsy knock, has kept them in the hunt. England, meanwhile, holds a 2–1 series lead, with momentum nudging in their favour. As the final chapter of this riveting series awaits, fans across the globe are holding their breath — not just for a winner but for another glimpse of the pure, unpredictable beauty of Test cricket.
