BY MAHADEV DESAI
For years, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were the pillars of Indian batting, anchoring the team through countless victories. But when the two legends retired just a month before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, questions loomed large: Could India hold its own in England without its stalwarts?
The answer came in emphatic fashion. Under 25-year-old captain Shubman Gill, a fresh-faced Indian squad not only fought toe-to-toe with England but also produced some of the most thrilling cricket in recent memory. The five-Test series ended in a 2-2 draw, with Gill’s men clinching a nail-biting six-run win at the Oval in the decider—an ending that former captain Sunil Gavaskar hailed as “the greatest of wins in Indian cricket history.”
Shubman Gill led from the front, amassing a staggering 754 runs with four centuries—breaking records and silencing doubts about India’s post-Kohli-Rohit future. Alongside him, K.L. Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant shouldered the batting with flair. Pant etched his name in history as the first wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test for India.
On the bowling front, Mohammed Siraj spearheaded the attack with 23 wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, and debutant Akash Deep showed that India’s pace battery has depth and firepower.
More than just numbers, this series was about a team in transition proving its mettle. Seniors like Jadeja, Rahul, and Bumrah provided balance, but it was the younger players—Dhruv Jurel, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar—who stepped up with composure beyond their years.
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy broke live and digital viewing records. When the cricket is this gripping, Test matches still command global attention.
As the dust settles on England’s grounds, one thing is clear: Indian cricket has entered a new era. The baton has been passed, and Shubman Gill’s India looks ready to script its own legacy. The journey has only just begun.
