August 14th 2025:
The jubilation after India’s win at the Oval in the 5th Test match that we are so elaborately celebrating is quite puzzling. The win was just to draw a series and not win it. So why the hullaballoo, as we failed once again to win a series against England in England since 2007. That’s been a long drawn period of 18 years.
The 1st and foremost reason one can think of is one of “Low Expectation”. The recent retirement of 3 of our stalwarts in Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin and ignoring the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane made one wonder whether the Indian side had the capability to perform well in England. After all, even with them India failed to come back with glory.
The 2-2 result was a perfect ending, as one realized that the English side was far less superior man-to-man to the Indian outfit and so did not deserve to be the clear winners. However, with such a low expectation of the Indian side, one accepted the final result of a drawn series as a win. Although looking back, India should have come through victorious.
The celebration that one seems to revel in, is more towards individual performances rather than that of the teams. The batting performances of Shubman Gill, K.L. Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and the dependable Ravindra Jadeja were superlative. It took one back to the days when India boasted of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly along with a bit of spice from Yuvraj Singh. Unfortunately, the Indian bowlers when required failed to capitalize on the tall scores notched up by the batters. The exception being the 2nd Test match in Birmingham, which in all respects required the English batters to perform a herculean task to win and the other being the final day of the last Test match. The latter was what finally saved India from embarrassment and led to a celebration. One wondered whether India had the toughness and heart to deliver and two champion bowlers emerged in Md. Siraj and Prasidh Krishna to take India to a win. Similarly it was Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, both who batted with phenomenal grit and determination to ensure a draw in the 4th Test match at Old Trafford. This effort was what kept India alive to play the final Test.
India, showcasing such resilience in the last 2 Test matches is what made the Shubman Gill led side one to marvel at.
Whether it is a victory or even a draw from such a difficult position, it is this unpredictable performances that’s what makes cricket most enjoyable. There have been very few such moments in Indian cricket history, where an Indian side has shown the mental strength to excel in the past.
In a limited overs game, close finishes have been many, due to restriction in the overs to be bowled. One, therefore, expects such uncanny results, whereas, in a Test match it is entirely different.
The Jasprit Bumrah work load issue has become a controversial one. He is at present the best fast bowler in the world and quite understandably the Indian side would like his services at all times. The only folly that emerged is not of his intention but the announcement even before the series began. There was no need to state that he will play only 3 Test matches. There are certain issues that remain in the dressing room and should remain just there.
The accolades that are being showered quiet understandably on Md. Siraj, for playing the 5 Test matches sent my thoughts back to the legendry pacers Kapil Dev and the suave Karsan Ghavri. Here were 2 fast bowlers then who not only played 4 or 5 or 6 Test matches series in a row, but also bowled several overs in the county and side matches during a tour as well. One took them for granted and now one admires what they did, as the recent records have shown, that Kapil Dev bowled over a 1000 deliveries in a Test series on 8 occasions and Karsan Ghavri on 3. This pair who bowled together have yet another performance to regale. No team has had a 100 run opening partnership when they have operated in tandem. To snatch the ball from their hand for a rest when they were on song was an impossible task, “work load or not” they were “work horses”. Md. Saif has shown the same heart and commitment and so have the batters in getting big scores.
The fact is that only time will tell how well the Indian Test side have gelled together. They do have the heart and ingredients to be the best.
(Mr Yajurvindra Singh is a former India cricketer. The views expressed are personal.)