In a stunning display of resilience and talent, the young Indian cricket team led by Shubman Gill managed to level the five-match Test series 2-2 against England — a feat that came despite the retirement of Test giants Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R. Ashwin.
What took everyone by surprise was the dominance displayed by India’s new generation of players in English conditions, traditionally considered one of the toughest for visiting teams. Every match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy went down to the fifth day, showcasing a fierce contest where Indian players excelled across all departments.
Shubman Gill Leads from the Front with 754 Runs
Skipper Shubman Gill emerged as the standout performer of the series, scoring a record 754 runs, the highest by any batter in the series. His consistency with the bat was instrumental in India’s fightback, earning him the Player of the Series award alongside England’s Harry Brook, who scored 481 runs.
Mohammed Siraj: India’s Pace Spearhead with 23 Wickets
Pacer Mohammed Siraj was named Player of the Match in the final Test at The Oval after claiming 9 wickets, including a match-defining spell. He ended the series as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps, underlining his growth as India’s pace spearhead.
KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal Make Valuable Contributions
KL Rahul, returning as an opener, became the second-highest run-scorer for India in a Test series in England with 532 runs.
Rishabh Pant smashed two centuries and three fifties in just four matches, reaffirming his reputation as a game-changer.
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored centuries in both the first and final Tests, making significant contributions at the top.
Washington Sundar Named ‘Impact Player of the Series’
In a heartfelt moment captured in a BCCI.tv video, Head Coach Gautam Gambhir praised the team’s spirit before Ravindra Jadeja presented Washington Sundar with the Impact Player of the Series medal. Though he did not play the first match, Sundar made a strong comeback in the remaining four Tests.
Batting: 284 runs in 8 innings at an impressive average of 47.33, including a century and a fifty.
Bowling: 7 wickets, with his best performance (4 wickets) coming at Lord’s.
Sundar expressed his delight:
“Playing four back-to-back Tests in England was a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to perform here. As a team, the energy we brought every day — especially in fielding — was phenomenal. We were always there for each other.”
A Series to Remember
The drawn series not only highlighted the depth of India’s bench strength but also marked the beginning of a new era in Indian Test cricket. With a young core stepping up in the absence of legends, the future of Indian cricket looks promising.
