India vs England: 4 best Test matches in the past decade
India versus England cricket has always had an intense rivalry. While England is the birthplace of cricket, no country can come close to the popularity of the gentleman’s game in India. Since cricket is one of the most popular sports in both countries, their cricket teams have always been competitive as well.
This has led to the development of a fierce rivalry between the two nations, who otherwise rarely meet on the world stage. The competitiveness we see between these two teams is also an intriguing one. It doesn’t have the same edge that an Ashes series or a Border-Gavaskar trophy possesses, but the cricket played is still of the highest quality.
Indian cricket team players like Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinjkya Rahane and England cricket team players like Joe Root, Ben Stokes and James Anderson have dominated for both teams in the Test arena. Indian cricket team captains like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and England cricket team captains like Alastair Cook and Joe Root have all led the teams from the front.
In this article, let’s take a look at some of the best India vs England Test matches over the past decade.
4. England vs India, 1st Test, Edgbaston, 2018
When the Indian cricket team toured England in the summer of 2018, hopes were high on the Indian side to finally deliver a series win. The spotlight, as always, was on Virat Kohli to break the duck in English conditions, even describing it as his final frontier.
Virat Kohli scored one of his career-best Test hundreds to finally prove himself in English conditions. With none of the batsmen apart from Kohli scoring more than 30, India finished with 274. England were 87/7 at one stage and was staring down the barrel but Sam Curran scored a vital 63 to take them to 180.
Chasing a gettable target of 194, the Indian batsmen were disappointed once again as India fell short by 32 runs. India never recovered from that defeat, eventually losing the series 4-1.
3. England vs India, 3rd Test, Ageas Bowl, 2014
The fact that this test made it onto this list is a huge surprise. This India vs England test match was not as dramatic as the others on this list, but the reason that made this game special was due to the extreme pressure on the England team to get a result.
Coming into this India-England test match, the Three Lions were 1-0 down in the series and also lost a home test series to Sri Lanka prior to this series. There was huge pressure on England cricket team captain Alastair Cook, with some even calling for his head.
Amidst all of this, England cricket captain Alastair Cook scored a series-turning 95 and centuries from Ian Bell and Gary Ballance took England to 569. India, in reply, could only score 330 as James Anderson took a five-wicket haul.
England put further misery on the Indian bowlers, declaring at 205/4 in the 2nd innings. India was blown away in the chase, all out for 178 to lose by a hefty margin of 266 runs. England didn’t look back from there, winning the series 3-1.
2. England vs India, 2nd test, Lords, 2021
India versus England tests were once again on show in the summer of 2021 and this time they had an even better chance of pulling off a series win with the England cricket team at its lowest point in more than 20 years.
With the first test ending in a draw, the pressure was on India to get a favourable result. India batted first and posted a competitive 364 on the board, with KL Rahul scoring a brilliant century. As always, Joe Root waged a lone battle against the Indian bowlers with a masterful 180 as England even took a lead of 27 runs.
With time running out, India declared their 2nd innings at 298/8, setting a target of 272. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah took 4 and 3 wickets respectively to knock over the England cricket team in under two sessions and win the test match.
Virat Kohli won his first Test at Lord’s as captain as India took a 1-0 lead in the series. India currently holds a 2-1 lead in the series, with a test match still to be played this year.
1. India vs England, 2nd Test, Mumbai, 2012
India versus England Test series in 2012 is the only time India has lost a series at home in the past 15 years. India has lost just 3 test series at home since the turn of the century. You have to be a mighty good side to beat India in India and the England cricket team managed to pull it off in 2012.
After losing the first test in Ahmedabad quite convincingly, the pressure was on the England cricket team to prove themselves in subcontinental conditions. Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni wanted a rank-turner in Mumbai to quickly wrap up the series but it blew up on their own faces as they managed just 327 in the 1st innings. Pujara saved India with a century, while Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann took 9 wickets.
Kevin Pietersen probably played one of the finest innings on the subcontinent with a masterful 186 and England cricket team captain Alastair Cook scored a brilliant 122 as England posted 413. Monty Panesar took six and Graeme Swann took four wickets to blow India away for just 142.
England chased down the small target without losing any wickets and levelled the series. The England cricket team went on to win the 3rd test and the series as well with England cricket coach Andy Flower terming it as the best series he was part of.