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Khel Vaani | The Greatest Fightback: Battle Cry Of New Indian Cricket Team Is ‘Never Give Up’

17 0
06.08.2025

As I write this piece, Bharat has achieved its narrowest of wins, defeating England at the Oval by a margin of six runs in the fifth and final test, drawing the series 2-2. The result at Oval is also the narrowest of margin win there in a test match in 100 years.

The series that just concluded was the second consecutive time a Test series between England and India, held on the English soil, ended in a draw. The last time India had toured England, back in 2021-22, the series ended with an identical result series of 2-2 draw. It also means after 2018, the England test team stays win-less in a five-match test series.

As regards Bharat, it is only the second time that an Indian test team has drawn a five-match series on the English soil.

The Gun Team

But, there was difference between then and now—the last time, the Indian team which drew the series in 2021-22, was of seasoned and experienced cricketers; this time, they were green horns—dubbed an inexperienced young team in the transition, playing their first test series without the Indian cricketing greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. That too on the English soil and with the services of its bowling great Jasprit Bumrah available at the best only for three matches.

Nevertheless, what this Indian cricket team handed was a fitting reply to the ultra-aggressive style of batting of the experienced English team. The young Turks of Bharat came out attacking with a blazing gun, both with bat and ball, to mark their arrival as the “gun team", making the series an epic battle that will be remembered and talked about by cricketing pundits and cricket lovers for years to come.

The Backdrop

The performance of the young Bhartiya team must be seen amid the fact that since 1932, when India played the first one-match test series in England, in the 20 test series played there, it won only thrice—all three test series 1-0 (1971), 2-0 (1986) and 1-0 (2007). Of the balance 15, India lost 13 series and drew two in 2021-22 and 2025.

Only Thrice

Also, the performance of the young Indian team must be seen in the backdrop of the following:

1. In the 93 years of cricketing test match history between India and England, Bharat has won only 11 test matches of which four were won in the last two trips.

2. Only thrice has the Indian team won two test matches in series—in 1986 when India won 2-0, 2021-22 when it drew 2-2 and 2025 when it magnificently drew 2-2.

3. Third Win at Oval: Of 18 test matches played at Oval (excluding WTC 2023 final against Australia) India has won three, lost five and drawn nine against England. Earlier, an Oval win in 1971 under Ajit Wadekar landed India its first series win against England, while a tremendous win under the captaincy of Virat Kohli helped it to level the 2021-22 series 2-2.

Narrowest of Margin

The six-run margin of victory in the fifth Test against England at The Oval is India’s narrowest victory margin in Tests. The previous narrowest margin was 13 runs while defending 107 against Australia in Mumbai in 2004. Also, the margin of six runs is the narrowest margin of victory at Oval in 100 years. As regards England, the six-run margin of defeat is their the joint third-narrowest defeat in Tests.

When India set England an imposing target of 374 on day three of the fifth and final Test at The Oval, with the hosts closing on 50-1 after opener Zak Crawley (14) was bowled by........

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