The last time India toured England for a Test series, it turned out to be one of the most dramatic and frustrating tours in recent memory. Split into two parts due to Covid-19, India were leading 2–1 after four Tests when the final Test at Edgbaston was postponed. When it eventually took place ten months later in July 2022, India’s historic overseas success was thwarted by a rampant England side playing under their new aggressive approach — Bazball.
What could have been a defining moment in Indian cricket history — simultaneous Test series wins in Australia and England — ended instead in a 2–2 draw.
How India Dominated Early in the Series
India started the series on a strong note and might have taken the lead right in the first Test at Trent Bridge, if not for rain. Jasprit Bumrah’s nine-wicket haul had reduced England to a chase of 209 in the fourth innings. India ended Day 4 at 52/1, with Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara solid at the crease. The pitch had eased out, momentum was India’s, but persistent rain washed out Day 5 and robbed them of a golden chance.
Undeterred, India bounced back in style at Lord’s in the second Test. The turning point was the aggressive partnership between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, frustrating England with the bat. Captain Virat Kohli’s iconic huddle speech, urging his bowlers to make England “feel hell”, was followed by India bowling England out in under 52 overs, scripting one of their most famous overseas victories.
The Oval brought another memorable win, this time thanks to Rohit Sharma’s sublime 127 in the second innings. India overcame a first-innings deficit of 99 to set England a challenging target. England, after a strong start at 100/0, collapsed for 210 under relentless pressure from India’s bowlers.
With India leading 2-1 and one Test remaining, history beckoned.
The Turning Point: Covid, Bazball, and the Missed Series Win
Before the fifth Test at Manchester could be played in 2021, a Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp forced an indefinite postponement. By the time it was rescheduled in July 2022 at Edgbaston, England were a different side. Under Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, the era of Bazball had begun.
Despite a shaky start, India managed to post 416, powered by centuries from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. They led by 132 runs after the first innings and seemed set for a historic triumph.
Then came the counterattack. Jonny Bairstow, in the form of his life, slammed twin hundreds in the match. England chased down 378 runs in just 76.3 overs, with Joe Root also scoring an unbeaten century. It was a record fourth-innings chase against India, and suddenly, the series was squared 2–2.
What should have been a historic series win ended with bitter disappointment.
The Defeats: Lessons from Headingley and Edgbaston
The third Test at Headingley was another blot for India. Choosing to bat first, India crumbled for just 78 runs on a seaming pitch. It was a massive tactical blunder, and India never recovered in that match.
But it was the Edgbaston Test that truly stung. Despite having the upper hand, India failed to adjust to the unpredictable aggression of Bazball. Missing captain Rohit Sharma due to Covid, Jasprit Bumrah captained for the first time and had a chance to create history — only for it to slip away.
The Key Takeaways: What India Can Do Better in England
1️⃣ Collective Performances Matter:
India succeeded when different players stood up at key moments. Unlike some past overseas tours where one or two players carried the burden, this time the wins at Lord’s and The Oval were team efforts.
2️⃣ Adapting to Bazball:
The Bazball approach is high-risk, high-reward. Teams that play traditionally structured Test cricket often don’t know how to counter it. India will need to adopt a more defensive field setup, cut off boundaries, and slow down the tempo to disrupt England’s rhythm if they want success in future tours.
3️⃣ Reading Conditions Better:
The Headingley collapse underlined the need to correctly assess English conditions. Conservative, disciplined batting on green-tops and capitalizing on batting-friendly days is the way forward.
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